"I don't believe," said the Admiral, with a long sigh, a shake of the head, and a reminiscent wink at Jermyn, "that any matter which affected business has ever been kept close by two men--eh, Jermyn?" "Quite right, Admiral. Still, as to duplicating my sketch----" "You can't prevent me, at least," the Admiral replied, "so I shall beg Mrs. Highwood to re-write the letter at once. If Jermyn chooses to throw away fifty thousand dollars--oh, Miss Trewman, you have more influence over him than any one else; do reason with him. Better still, command him. Don't let him throw good money to the dogs." "What dogs? Who's throwin' money to 'em?" drawled Trixy, who had begun to fall asleep. "Mr. Jermyn, my dear, is doing it," said Phil, "and all because your own father stupidly lost a couple of pictures." "Gracious!" exclaimed the child, yawning and rubbing her eyes. "What shall I do, my dear?" asked Jermyn, as Kate turned an anxious face toward him. "The money, should I get it, will be practically yours; that is, it will enable me to support my wife far better than my unaided salary will." The Admiral, Fenie and Harry looked intently at Kate. Trif, at a table in the sitting room, had been writing rapidly with her husband looking over her shoulder. When she had finished Phil took the pen and did something to the letter, at which Trif nodded approvingly and then slyly drew Phil's face down to her and kissed it. Then she tore the two leaves of the sheet apart, and gave one to each of the despoiled men, saying, "Admiral, this is the portion which you used. Jermyn, this is yours. Kate, have you brought him to his senses?" "Shall I?" asked Jermyn. "Yes," said Kate, "if you think it right." "But I don't." "Then you shan't" exclaimed Kate, snatching the paper from him. "No one shall ever blame you, though, for 'tisn't you who are throwing away the money; it is I." She stepped quickly toward the grate, extended her hand, stopped, turned her head and said: "As some reward for my self-sacrifice, mayn't I read the letter before I burn it?" "You poor child!" murmured Trif. "What? Was it as bad as that?" "Look at it, Kate," said Phil, "and you will know what Trif means." In a second Kate was under the chandelier and turning the sheet, but as she looked her face became blank, for Phil, supposing the paper was to go into the hands of a lot of business men, had penned over every line so skillfully, after the manner of commercial correspondents who make erasures in letters, that not a word of the original writing was decipherable. "You shall know it all, you dear disappointed girl," said Trif. "I shall tell you every word of it this very evening--this very moment. Come with me; I know the others will excuse us under the circumstances." Together they started to leave the room, but encountered Trixy, who was just entering.