"
"Is it necessary?"
"Perhaps not, but I feel my curiosity is justified. You told me a rather
remarkable story and requested my aid in the solving of a strange
mystery. Now you abruptly dismiss me from that service. Do you mean the
mystery is already solved without my further assistance?"
"I am convinced there was no mystery; that it was only imagination,
Captain West. My calling you was a mistake."
"Percival Coolidge assures you of this?"
"Positively; we have discussed it from every angle, and all that appeared
mysterious has been made clear."
"There is no one else impersonating you?"
"No."
"The checks at the bank; the strange person using your name; all these
were myths?"
She laughed.
"Of course. I really believed all I said to you at the time, but
everything has been explained since, and I realize how very foolish I
have been. Uncle Percival has been very nice about it. He simply didn't
understand before how worried I was."
"No doubt. You sent for me then merely to say I was dismissed?"
"Yes."
"And you told Coolidge, of course, how I came to be here?"
"Yes."
"And the others? What will they think?"
"Why, that can make no difference. They can be told that you were
suddenly called away. Let them suppose we had a quarrel, and that our
engagement is broken," and she laughed again, evidently vastly amused
at the idea.
"But you, personally?" he insisted.
She sobered instantly, also rising, and facing him.
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