Jane-Ellen had another of her attacks of dangerous candor. "Well, a good many have said it, sir," she whispered, "but it never sounded to me as it did when you said it." And after this she had the grace to dart through the door and downstairs, so fast that he could hear her little heels clatter on each step as she went. In the hall he found Tucker, standing under a lamp, studying a time-table, with glasses set very far down his nose. Opposite, Lefferts was leaning against the wall, his arms folded and the expression on his face of one who has happened unexpectedly upon a very good moving picture show. Seeing Crane, Tucker folded up his time-table and removed his glasses. "Your other guest has just arrived," he observed. "Oh, is Reed here?" "Yes," said Lefferts, "he's in your office taking off his coat." "And you may be interested to know," added Tucker, with a biting simplicity that had impressed many juries in its time, "you may be interested to know that he is the man I found kissing Jane-Ellen last week." "What, Reed!" cried Crane, with a gesture that might have been interpreted as ferocious. Hearing his name called, Reed came hurrying out. "Yes," he said, advancing with outstretched hand, "here I am. Sorry to be late, but I was ready before--" "We'll go in to dinner," said Crane shortly. Tucker and Reed moved first toward the dining-room. Lefferts drew his host aside. "Just one moment," he said. "You went off so quickly when that gong rang that I did not have any chance to tell you how I feel about your generosity. It makes--" Crane grasped his hand. "You have an opportunity this very moment," he replied, "to repay me for anything I ever have done or may do for you. Talk, my dear fellow, talk at dinner. Do nothing but talk. Otherwise, I shall knock those two men's heads together." Lefferts smiled. "I doubt if you'd get much sense into them even if you did," he murmured. "No," answered Burton, "but I should have a great deal of enjoyment in doing it." XI