Never saw such a joker in all my days." I would fain have rushed from the place, but I dared not.

Every word I said involved me deeper, and yet I could not leave them all like this without one effort at least either to recover my secret--Jack's secret-- or else to appeal to their confidence and generosity.
It was evident they were not disposed to believe anything I told them, except the one hideous fact.

And that, though I had not uttered it in so many words, every one believed from my lips as if I had been inspired.
I sat in abject misery while the meal lasted, listening to the brutal jests made at the cost of my absent friend, and knowing that I was responsible for them all.
Directly supper was over I appealed to Doubleday.
"I do hope you won't say anything about this at the office, Doubleday," I said, imploringly.

"It would be such a dreadful thing for it to get out." "Then it is true ?" demanded Doubleday.
"No--that is--I--I--don't know," responded I, "but oh! don't say anything about it." "Bless me, if you don't know," said he, "why do you make such a fuss?
Take my advice, young un, and don't say any more about it to any one.
You've done very well so far, and if you want the fellows to forget all about it you'd better not remind them of it so much." "But, Doubleday," I implored once more, "out of friendship for me--" "Out of friendship for you let me offer you a cigar," said Doubleday.
"Now you fellows, what's it to be--whist, nap, poker, or what ?" I turned in despair to Hawkesbury.
"Please, Hawkesbury," I said, "promise to say nothing about it at the office.

I would be so grateful if you would." "Then," said Hawkesbury, asking the same question as Doubleday had just asked, "it is true ?" I dared not say "Yes," and to say "No" would, I knew, be useless.
"Oh, please don't ask me," I said, only "promise--do, Hawkesbury." Hawkesbury smiled most sweetly.
"Really," he said, "one would think it was such a nice subject that a fellow would like to talk about it!" "Then you won't!" I cried, ready to jump at the least encouragement; "oh, thanks, Hawkesbury!" This was the only comfort I could get.