"I assure you I sha'n't ask anything so important as that, but I _shall_ ask a favor." "Name it and it is yours!" Speed wrung the hand she offered. "And perhaps I can do more than keep silent--although I don't see what good it will do. Perhaps I can help your suit." "Gracious lady, all I ask is that you thrust out your foot and trip up Berkeley Fresno whenever he starts toward her. Put him out of the play, and I shall be the happiest man in the world." "Agreed." "Now, in what way can I serve you?" Mrs. Keap became embarrassed, while the same shadowy trouble that had been observed of late settled upon her. "I simply hate to ask it," she said, "but I suppose I must. There seems to be no other way out of it." Turning to him suddenly, she said, in a low, intense voice: "I--I'm in trouble, Mr. Speed, such dreadful trouble!" "Oh, I'm so sorry!" he answered her, with genuine solicitude. "You needn't have made any conditions. I would have done anything I could for you." "That's very kind, for I don't like our air of conspiracy, but"-- Mrs. Keap was wringing her slender hands--"I just can't tell the girls. You--you can help me." Speed allowed her time to grow calm, when she continued: "I--I am engaged to be married." "Felicitations!" "Not at all," said the young widow, wretchedly. "That is the awful part of it. I am engaged to _two_ men!" She turned her brown eyes full upon him; they were strained and tragic. Speed felt himself impelled to laugh immoderately, but instead he observed, in a tone to relieve her anxiety: "Nothing unusual in that; it has been done before. Even I have been prodigal with my affections. What can I do to relieve the congestion?" "Please don't make light of it. It means so much to me. I--I'm in