I am sure that had he touched me I should have flown at him, and I rather suspect he knew it. While he hesitated I heard someone speaking in loud tones in the office from which we had just now been ejected. It was a man’s voice. 

 “I want to see Miss Blyth.” 

 It was Mr. Slaughter who replied. 

 “I say you can’t see Miss Blyth, so you have my answer, sir.” 

 “But that is an answer which I am unable to accept. I must see Miss Blyth, and at once, on a matter of grave importance.” 

 “Don’t talk to me, sir; my time is valuable. This is neither the hour nor the place at which we are accustomed to allow a stranger to see the young women in our employ. And as, in any case, this particular young woman is no longer in our employ, I repeat that you cannot see Miss Blyth.” 

 “Oh, yes, you can—for here is Miss Blyth.” 

 Darting past the porter, who seemed pretty slow-witted, I was back again in the office. A stranger was confronting the indignant Mr. Slaughter. I had just time to see that he was not old, and that he was holding a top hat, when he turned to me. 

 “Are you Miss Mary Blyth?” 

 “I am, Mr. Slaughter knows I am.” 

 “My name is Paine, Frank Paine. I am a solicitor. If you are the Mary Blyth I am in search of I have a communication to make to you of considerable importance.” 

 “Then make it outside, sir.” This was Mr. Slaughter. 

 The porter appeared at the door. 

 “What’s the meaning of this, Sanders? Didn’t I tell you to see this young woman off the premises?” 

 “I was just seeing her, sir, when she slipped off before I knew it.” 

 I flashed round at Sanders. 

 “You’ve assaulted me once, don’t you dare to assault me again; this gentleman’s a solicitor. If you’re a solicitor, Mr. Paine, I want you to help me. Because I was accidentally prevented from returning till a few minutes after time last night, Mr. Slaughter wishes to send me away at a moment’s notice, without a character.” 

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