Removing the pipe from his mouth the judge replied: "Shirley's in Paris.

Poor girl, I hadn't the heart to tell her.
She has no idea of what's happened.

I didn't want to spoil her holiday." He was silent for a moment.

Then, after a few more puffs he added confidentially in a low tone, as if he did not care for his wife to hear: "The truth is, Stott, I couldn't bear to have her return now.

I couldn't look my own daughter in the face." A sound as of a great sob which he had been unable to control cut short his speech.