"I don't know that it's true, either.

But tell me how it came about." "It's a short story, old friend, and easily told, though it has never been told till now.

I had done the man some service at Carlisle." "Saved his life, so they say." "It was a good turn, truly, but I had done it--at least, the first part of it--unawares.

But that's _not_ a short story." "Tell me, Ralph." "It's dead and done with, like the man himself.

What remains is not dead, and cannot soon be done with.