that Helene had made a mistake about you。 She'd got a notion you
were a millionaire like the little Cooley； but I knew better from
your talk。 She's clever； but she's French； and she can't get it
out of her head that you could be an American and not a millionaire。
Of course； they ~all~ knew better when you brought out your express
checks and talked like somebody in one of the old…time story…books
about 'debts of honor。' Even Helene understood then that the
express checks were all you had。〃 She laughed。 〃I didn't have
any trouble gettin' the ~note~ back！〃
She paused again for a moment； then resumed： 〃There isn't much
use our goin' over it all； but I want you to know one thing。 Your
little friend Cooley made it rather clear that he accused Helene and
me of signalin'。 Well； I didn't。 Perhaps that's the reason you
didn't lose as much as he did； I can't say。 And one thing more：
all this isn't goin' to do you any harm。 I'm not very keen about
philosophy and religion and that； but I believe if you're let in
for a lot of trouble； and it only ~half~ kills you； you can get
some good of it。〃
〃Do you think；〃 he stammered〃do you think I'm worth saving？〃
She smiled faintly and said：
〃You've probably got a sweetheart in the States somewherea nice
girl； a pretty young thing who goes to church and thinks you're a
great man； perhaps？ Is it so？〃
〃I am not worthy；〃 he began； choked suddenly； then finished〃to
breathe the same air！〃
〃That's quite right；〃 Lady Mount…Rhyswicke assured him。 〃Think
what you'd think of her if she'd got herself into the same sort of
scrape by doin' the things you've been doin'！ And remember ~that~
if you ever feel impatient with her； or have any temptations to
superiority in times to come。 And yet〃for the moment she spoke
earnestly〃you go back to your little girl； but don't you tell
her a word of this。 You couldn't even tell her that meetin' you
has helped me； because she wouldn't understand。〃
〃Nor do I。 I can't。〃
〃Oh； it's simple。 I saw that if I was gettin' down to where I was
robbin' babies and orphans。。。。〃 The cab halted。 〃Here's your
corner。 I told him only to go round the block and come back。
Good…by。 I'm off for Amalfi。 It's a good place to rest。〃
He got out dazedly； and the driver cracked his whip over the little
horse； but Mellin lifted a detaining hand。
〃~A spet~；〃 called Lady Mount…Rhyswicke to the driver。 〃What is it；
Mr。 Mellin？〃
〃I can'tI can't look you in the face；〃 he stammered； his attitude
perfectly corroborative of his words。 〃I wouldoh； I would kneel
in the dust here before you〃
〃Some of the poetry you told me you write？〃
〃I've never written any poetry；〃 he said； not looking up。 〃Perhaps
I cannow。 What I want to say isI'm so ashamed of itI don't
know how to get the words out； but I must。 I may never see you
again； and I must。 I 'm sorryplease try to forgive meI wasn't
myself when I did it？〃
〃Blurt it out； that's the best way。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 he floundered〃I'm sorry I kissed you。〃
She laughed her tired laugh and said in her tired voice the last
words he was ever destined to hear from her：
〃Oh； I don't mind； if you don't。 It was so innocent； it was what
decided me。〃
One of the hundreds of good saints that belong to Rome must have
overheard her and pitied the young man； for it is ascribable only
to some such special act of mercy that Mellin understood （and he
did） exactly what she meant。
End