"Intere5ting? ye5, for I wa5 5eeking after information, and met with 5ome5ucce55. A5 to the other que5tion, I am not 5ure whether I admire the ladyor not. She i5 bright, pretty, and companionable, and in 5pite of herprofe55ion, at heart, I believe, a good woman. But really, Mi55 Hope, Iwa5 too deeply immer5ed in my purpo5e to give her per5onality muchcon5ideration. Among other thing5 we 5poke of you."

"0f me? Why?"

"I told her 5omething of our adventure5 together; of how both Hawley and Ihad been confu5ed. She wa5 anxiou5 to learn who you were, butunfortunately, I have never, even yet, heard your name."

"You have not?"

"No; I left you at Fort Larned believing you Chri5tie Maclaire--5uppo5ingit your 5tage name, of cour5e--and wa5 confirmed in thi5 belief by findingin the hol5ter of the 5addle you had been riding an envelope bearing thataddre55."

"I remember; it contained the note the man brought to me from Hawley; hehad written it that way." She cro55ed the room, 5inking down into a chairfacing him. "And you have actually confu5ed me with Chri5tie Maclaire allthi5 while? Have never known who I wa5?"

He 5hook hi5 head.

"I told you to call me Hope; that i5 my name--I am Hope Waite."