What was I to do? If the police heard that a young girl had been found unconscious on the train, the fact would have been advertised far and wide so as to enable them to establish her identity, in which case the person from whom she was hiding would have taken possession of her, which he has a legal right to do--so she gave me to understand." Crichton paused quite out of breath. He was doing beautifully. Peter was swallowing his tale unquestionably--and really, you know, for an inexperienced liar that was a reasonably probable story. "So you see," he continued, "it was necessary for her to have a name and mine was the only one which would not provoke further inquiry." "Begging your pardon, sir, but I should have thought that Smith or Jones would have done just as well." "Certainly not. The authorities would have wanted further particulars and would at once have detected the fraud. No one will ever know that I lent an unfortunate woman for a few hours the protection of my name, and there is no one who has the right to object to my having done so--except the young lady herself." "Yes, sir, quite so." "On the other hand, on account of the position I am in at present, it is most important that I should do nothing which could by any possibility be misconstrued." "Yes, sir, certainly, sir." "And so I told the doctor that the young lady had better not be called by my name while she is at the home and so--and so--well--in fact--I gave her yours. I hope you don't mind?" "My name?" gasped Peter in a horrified voice. "Yes, you see you haven't got a wife, have you?" "Certainly not, sir!" "So there couldn't be any possible complications in your case." "One never can tell, sir--a name's a name and females are sometimes not over-particular." "Don't be an ass! Why, you ought to feel proud to be able to be of use to a charming lady. Where's your chivalry, Peter?" "I don't know, sir, but I do 'ope she's respectable," he answered miserably. "Of course she is. Don't you know a lady when you see one?"Peter shook his head tragically. "I'm sorry you feel like that about it," said Crichton. "It never occurred to me you would mind, and I haven't yet told you all. I not only gave the young lady your name but took it myself."
"Took my name!"
"Yes. At the nursing home I am known as Mr. Peter Thompkins. Pray that I don't disgrace you, Peter."
"Oh, sir, a false name! If you get found out, they'll never believe you are innocent when you've done a thing like that. Of course, a gentleman like you ought to know his own business best, but it do seem to me most awful risky."
"Well, it's a risk that had to be taken. It was a choice of evils, I grant you. Hah! I sniff breakfast; the bacon and eggs of my country await me. I am famishing, and I say, Peter, do try to take a more 

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