Littleson nodded and left them soon afterwards. He went to his rooms, changed into calling attire, and before four o'clock his automobile was outside the mansion in Fifth Avenue, and he himself waiting in the drawing-room for Virginia. She came to him with very little delay, and welcomed him quite naturally. "I am afraid," he said, "that you must look upon callers as rather a nuisance just now, but we are all very anxious about your uncle, and I thought I would like to hear something more than that little bulletin outside tells us." She motioned him to sit down. "You are very kind," she said. "My uncle is really about the same. The doctor thinks he may be able to get up in about a week." "Is there any--specific disease?" he asked, hesitatingly. "I think not," she answered. "I don't understand all that the doctor says. It seems to me that all you men here lead such strenuous lives that you have no time to be ill. You simply wait until you collapse." "I'm afraid that's true, Miss Longworth," he said, "and if you will forgive my saying so, I fancy you have been doing a little too much yourself, worrying and looking after your uncle. Can't I tempt you out for a little way in my automobile? It's a delightful afternoon." She shook her head. "You are very kind," she said, "but I seem to be the only person for whom my uncle asks sometimes, and he is awake just now. I should not like to be away." "He is conscious, then?" Littleson asked. "Perfectly," she answered. "I suppose it is quite useless asking to see him?" "Quite. The doctor would never allow it. He has to be kept absolutely quiet, and free from excitement," "I hope," he said, "that he did not hear anything of the attempted burglary the other night?" Virginia smiled very faintly, and her dark eyes rested for a moment upon his. "No!" she answered, "we kept that from him. You see nothing was really stolen. As a matter of fact there was so little in that room which could have been of any value to any one." "Exactly!" he answered, feeling a little uncomfortable. "There are so many lovely things all over the house," she continued, "that it has puzzled me very much why they should have chosen to try only to break open that desk in the library. It seems queer, doesn't it?" "Perhaps it does," he admitted. "On the other hand, they might have thought that your uncle had bonds and papers worth a great deal more than any of the ordinary treasures they could collect." "Well," she said, "they got nothing at all. Somehow, I don't fancy," she added, "that my uncle is the sort of man to keep valuable things where they could possibly be stolen." He determined to be a little daring. He raised his eyebrows, and looked at her with a smile which was meant to be humorous.