The dusk of evening was falling as we were ferried across to the city. I bade Godfrey good-bye, and took a cab direct to my rooms, for I was weary in body and spirit. But a bath and dinner improved both, and at eight o'clock I was ringing at Mr. Royce's door, for I knew how anxious he would be to hear my story, and besides, I owed him some reparation for leaving him alone at the office. He opened the door himself, and his face brightened at sight of me. "Why, Lester!" he cried, and shook hands warmly. "Come in. I'm mighty glad to see you." "I thought you'd like to hear about it," I said. "Of course I shall. It was like you to think of it." "I wanted to talk it over with you. It may help to straighten things out. I was afraid there wouldn't be time at the office." "We are rushed there, and that's a fact. Suppose we go up to the den. We can talk our talk out, there. Though," he added, as he led the way up the stair, "we could do that anywhere to-night. I'm keeping bachelor's hall. That affair at Elizabeth so upset my wife that she's gone away to the mountains to get braced up. Here we are," and he threw open a door. It was a cheery room, where he had gathered together the impedimenta which had marked his progress through bachelordom, mementoes of his college days, and such other possessions as were peculiarly his. "Now," he said, when we were settled, "let's have the story. Of course I've read the papers, but I hope you won't take that into account." So I told it step by step, while he listened silently, save for an occasional exclamation of astonishment. "It's the most remarkable thing I ever heard," he said, when I had finished. "I don't wonder that you believed at first that it had some connection with the Lawrence affair." "It was certainly a remarkable coincidence that they should happen together as they did." "And the first affair is as deep a mystery as ever?" "Godfrey says it's deeper than ever. I showed him Miss Lawrence's photograph as we came in on the train together, and after he'd looked at it, he said it was the strangest puzzle he'd ever encountered. It's absolutely unexplainable." Mr. Royce smoked for a moment in silence. "Of course there must be some explanation," he said, "and an adequate one. Marcia Lawrence wouldn't have run away without good and sufficient reason." "No," I agreed, "but there's one thing certain--whatever the reason, it isn't of a nature to render the marriage impossible. She was probably overwrought when she wrote that note to Curtiss--something had upset her so suddenly and completely that she couldn't see clearly." "How do you know that?" "Don't you remember her mother's last words to me? She said it would be for Curtiss to decide." "Yes, I remember. And I think there's no question as to what his decision will be." "No," I agreed. "Most men would be glad to get Marcia Lawrence upon any terms."