"I don't see--" "You will to-night," said Mr.Tredgold, with a mysterious smile.

"I've sent Edward off to town on business, and we sha'n't be interrupted.
Goodbye.

I'm busy." He shook hands with his visitor and led him to the door; Chalk, after a vain attempt to obtain particulars, walked slowly home.
Despite his curiosity it was nearly half-past eight when he arrived at Mr.Tredgold's that evening, and was admitted by his host.

The latter, with a somewhat trite remark about the virtues of punctuality, led the way upstairs and threw open the door of his study.
"Here he is," he announced.
A slender figure sitting bolt upright in a large grandfather-chair turned at their entrance, and revealed to the astonished Mr.Chalk the expressive features of Miss Selina Vickers; facing her at the opposite side of the room Mr.Stobell, palpably ruffled, eyed her balefully.
"This is a new client of mine," said Tredgold, indicating Miss Vickers.
[Illustration: "'This is a new client of mine,' said Tredgold."] Mr.Chalk said "Good evening." "I tried to get a word with you last night," said Miss Vickers.

"I was down at the bottom of your garden whistling for over ten minutes as hard as I could whistle.