Miss Thorpe asked me definitely not to do so, and I gave her my promise.

You must see,--as man to man,--I _can't_ tell you." "I see your point, and I quite agree, in a general way.

But, Gale, this is a--well, a crisis.

I'm investigating a mystery and I must _know_ who those people are." "Ask Miss Thorpe." "I have, and she won't tell." "Then you surely can't expect me to! After I promised to keep her secret!" "Why should it be a secret ?" "Ask her." "Well, tell me one thing; is the name Smith ?" "It is not." "What sort of people are they ?" "Oh, people of--why, hang it, man,--I don't know what to say to you! I refuse to betray Miss Thorpe's confidence, and so I don't know how much I ought to tell you." "Are they people I would receive in my home ?" "Scarcely! If you mean, are they your social equals, they are not!" "Then, I ought to know about them, and forbid Azalea their acquaintance." "Oh, Miss Thorpe doesn't know them socially!" said Gale, and then he said a quick "good-bye" and hung up his receiver..