Certainly, Nixon's mistress appeared to have a great deal of confidence in him.
I wished that more had been told me about the handsome secretary.

I wished that fate would give me another opportunity for seeing that gentleman and putting the same direct question to him I had put to Nixon.
Scarcely had this thought crossed my mind before a loud ring at the telephone disturbed the quiet below and I heard the secretary's voice in reply.

A minute after he appeared at the foot of the stairs.

His aspect was one of embarrassment, and he peered aloft in a hesitating way, as if he hardly knew how to proceed.
Taking advantage of this hesitation, I ran softly down to meet him.
"Any message for Mrs.Packard ?" I asked.
He looked relieved.
"Yes, from his Honor.

The mayor is unavoidably detained and may not be home till morning." "I will tell her." Then, as he reached for his overcoat, I risked all on one venture, and enlarging a little on the facts, said: "Excuse me, but was it you we heard laughing down-stairs a few minutes ago?
Mrs.Packard feared it might be some follower of the girls'." Pausing in the act of putting on his coat, he met my look with an air of some surprise.
"I am not given to laughing," he remarked; "certainly not when alone." "But you heard this laugh ?" He shook his head.