It was during one of these conversations that Mr. Gibb touched on a subject which was foremost both in his heart and head. He had taken a strenuous part in the family endeavours to find for Miss Lindsay some employment by means of which she could at least provide herself with the wherewithal to keep herself alive. He had entered on the search with sanguine zest. Apart from any feeling which he might himself entertain for the lady he felt that his reputation was at stake. He had pledged himself to find for her at least half-a-dozen ways of earning a living in a ridiculously short space of time; and as yet he had not found her one; and she herself still searched. He was aware of the visits to Mr. Thompson; they troubled him nearly as much as they troubled Nora; he felt almost as if he was himself responsible for their continuation. He knew that any day another might have to be paid; the knowledge made him desperate. He had had, for some time, a vague intention of speaking to his employer on the matter; but he was aware that Mr. Hooper did not always take him seriously, and he was curiously unwilling to have Miss Lindsay made the subject of that gentleman's chaff. Yet the thought of that further impending visit pressed heavily on his mind; so that presently the barrister perceived that in his air there was something singular. "You're not up to your usual mark, Mr. Gibb; those pearls of wisdom which I love to cherish as they drop from your lips don't seem dropping; stock run out?" Mr. Gibb looked up at the ceiling, then down to Mr. Hooper. "The fact is, sir, I've got something on my mind." "Is it possible? My good Mr. Gibb, do I ever allow anything to stop on my mind? Get it off!" "It's easy to talk, sir, but I don't seem as though I can." "Perhaps it would do your mind good to tell me what's on it; I have known that prescription work a cure. Give your mind its head, Mr. Gibb, let her go." Mr. Gibb hesitated; he was trying to find fitting words in which to express what he had to say. "It's like this, sir; I know somebody who very much wants to find the means of earning a living." "Not an uncommon character, Mr. Gibb. I suppose there are the usual requirements, large salary wanted, and very little work." "Not at all, sir, not in this case. The person to whom I'm alluding would be only too glad to do any amount of work, for very little wages." "That is unusual; I fear an effort has been made to impose upon your innocence. Who's the gentleman?" "It's not a gentleman, sir, it's a lady." "A lady? I say, Mr. Gibb! warnings out all along that coast; if at this period of your existence you get yourself mixed up with a lady, especially one who is on the look out for means of earning a living, your whole career may be blighted. She may look upon you as her living, and then where are you?" "No fear of that, sir; this is a lady born and bred; she's as high as the heavens above me." "Is she? Then she's tallish. Old?"