"There is a card," she said. She took it out, and glanced at it. I heard her exclaim in a startled voice: "Lor'! Who may he be when he's at home?" I looked up quickly. "What?" I said. "Don't you remember who Mr. Brace is?" "I remember Mr. Brace all right, Miss—Smith, I mean. But these here ain't from no Mr. Brace," said Million, in a voice of amazement. "Look at the card!" I took the card and read it. On one side was: "To Miss Million, with kindest greetings from an old friend of the family!" On the other side was the name: "The Honourable James Burke, Ballyneck, Ireland." "The Honourable!" echoed Million, breathing heavily on the H in "honourable." "Now who in the wide world is the gentleman called all that, who thinks he's a friend of my family (and one that hasn't any family), whoever's he?" [Pg 74] "It's very mysterious," I agreed, staring from the flowers to the card. [Pg 74] "Must be some mistake!" said Million. An idea occurred to me. "Ring the bell, Million," I said. Then, remembering my place, I crossed the room and rung the bell myself. "For the chamber-maid. She may be able to tell us something about this," I explained. "We'll ask her." More surprises! The rather prim-faced and middle-aged chamber-maid who appeared in answer to our summons had a startling announcement to make in answer to my query as to who was responsible for that sheaf of glorious carnations that we had found waiting. "The flowers, Madam, yes. Mr. Burke gave them to me himself with orders that they were to be placed in Miss Million's room." "Yes," I answered for
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