When Duncan had taken his leave Hallam plunged at once into the heart of things.
"Duncan tells me you're his friend--one who will stand by him?"
"I am all that, you may be sure, Captain Hallam."
"Very good. Now is the time to show yourself such. Duncan has got himself into something worse than a hole, and his whole career, to say nothing of his honorable reputation, is in danger. You and I can save him."
"Would you mind telling me the exact situation? Not that I need to know it in order to do anything you think would be helpful, but if I fully understand the matter, I shall know better what to do in any little emergency that may come about."
"Of course, of course. It's simply this way. Duncan is so straight himself that it never occurs to him that other people are different. There are
