I am an American, Miss Grandison, and, although long an exile from my own country, I appreciate the national characteristic of plain speech.

Let me explain that I am not married, that I have no ties which prevent free action on my part, and that nothing on earth will stop me from helping a woman who pins her faith to me.

With that preamble, as the lawyers say, I purpose taking off this heavy overcoat, and listening in comfort to anything you may wish to tell.

Or, if you are afraid of being disturbed, what do you say if we go to some restaurant, where, perhaps, we may eat, and, at any rate, talk without fear of interference ?" "I think we had better remain here," said the girl sadly, though it was plain that Curtis's offer of protection during the alarm created by the hall-porter's errand had advanced him a long way in her esteem.

"There are only two persons living who dare pretend to exercise control over my actions, and if they have arrived in New York this evening I have good reason to believe that I cannot escape them." "Are they coming here from Europe ?" asked Curtis quickly, for his active mind was already groping toward certain dimly defined conclusions.
"Yes." "Could they have been fellow-passengers of mine on the _Lusitania_ ?" "No, they are on board the _Switzerland_." He smiled, and discarded that fateful overcoat.
"Then set your mind at rest," he said, with the nonchalance of a man who has shelved a major difficulty.