"Then tell it me from where you are; I'm listening." Mrs. Lamb's voice dropped, so that her words were only just audible to the man above. "Cuthbert Grahame's money's found." Another pause, possibly of doubt. "Is that a lie?" "I'll swear it isn't; it's as true as I stand here." "Where is it?" "It's in his house" "His house? What house? I didn't know he'd got a house." "His house at Pitmuir--where I met him--where he died." "How do you know it's there?" "I'll tell you all about it if you'll let me in." "You'll tell me before I let you in." "Margaret Wallace--that girl--you know--she came this morning and told me it was there." "I don't believe it. Why should she, of all people, come and tell you a thing like that? Tell that for a tale." "She did; I swear she did. The money's there--I know just where--a quarter of a million at least." "A quarter of a million?" "At least! If I was there I'd have it in my hands inside two minutes. I'm as sure of it as I am that I'm alive. Don't be silly; let me in, and let's talk where we can be alone. I'm on the square--I swear it. I don't want anything from you; I just want your advice--that's all." There was another pause. "Mrs. Lamb, I've got a telephone installed in these premises. I'm going to telephone to a friend that you're here; I'm going to ask him to step round in a few minutes. If, when he comes, you've been making trouble, there'll be trouble for you--you'll be the sorriest woman that ever lived. I give you my word; when I give you my word on a point like that you know it goes. You wait there until I'm ready." The head was withdrawn; the window closed; the lady waited, impatiently enough. Her patience was sufficiently tried. It seemed to her that she waited an hour; she certainly did wait twenty minutes. More than once she was on the point of sounding a loud rat-a-tat on the knocker by way of a little reminder. It was only with an effort she restrained herself, being conscious that possibly Mr. Luker's decision still hung in the balance, and that it needed but little to turn the balance against her. She had just arrived at a final conclusion that he had played her false, or, at any rate, intended to ignore her existence, when the door was opened, on the chain. "I've telephoned to my friend; he's coming; so, if you're in an argumentative frame of mind, you'd better take my strong advice and stay outside. No argument will be allowed in here." It seemed to Mrs. Lamb that the wary Mr. Luker was carrying his wariness almost a trifle too far. She was unable to altogether conceal that this was her feeling. "Bless the man! I don't want to argue! I just want to explain exactly how the matter stands. When you've opened that door you'll find that I mean just what I say, neither more nor less." "My friend, when he arrives, will see that you don't mean more; you can take my word for that. Come inside!"