"Come into the parlor, first. I wish to speak to you." She felt compelled to obey, and walked into the room, Mr. Mitchel opening the door and waiting for her to pass through. He then followed, after closing the door behind him, locking it and taking the key from the lock. "Why did you do that?" asked Lucette angrily. "You forget yourself, Lucette. You are a servant, and good servants such as you have proven that you know how to be, never ask questions. However, I will answer you. I locked the door because I do not wish you to get out of this room." "I won't be locked in here with you. I am a respectable girl." "No one doubts it. You need not get excited, I am not going to hurt you in any way." "Then why have you brought me in here?" "Simply to keep you here till--well, say till twelve o'clock. That is about two hours. Do you mind?" "Yes, I do mind. I won't be kept in here alone with you for two hours." "You amuse me. How will you prevent it?" Lucette bit her lip, but said nothing. She saw that there was no help for her. She might scream, of course, but Mrs. Remsen and Dora had gone out before Emily. She and Mr. Mitchel were alone in the apartment. She might attract the attention of the janitor, or of people in the street. As this idea occurred to her she glanced toward the window. Mr. Mitchel divined her thoughts in a moment. "Don't try screaming, Lucette," said he, "for if you do, I will be compelled to gag you. You will find that very uncomfortable for two hours." "Will you tell me why you wish to keep me here?" "I thought I did tell you. The fact is, I do not wish you to do that little errand of yours." "I don't understand you." "Oh, yes, you do. You are not such a fool as all that. Now, my girl, you may as well bow to the inevitable. Make yourself comfortable till twelve. Read the paper, if you wish. There is an interesting account of the murder case. The woman, you know, who was killed in the flat upstairs. Have you followed it?" "No, I have not," she replied, snappishly. "That is strange. Do you know, I took you to be just the person who would have a deep interest in that kind of thing." "Well, I am not." For the next two hours not a word passed. Mr. Mitchel sat in a large arm-chair and simply watched the girl with an aggravating smile upon his face. In fact the smile was so aggravating, that after encountering it a few minutes, Lucette did not look at him again, but rivetted her gaze upon the opposite side of the street. At last the clock chimed twelve. Instantly the girl arose. "May I go now?" "Yes, Lucette, you may go now--and do your little errand--that is if it is not too late. And by the way, Lucette, Miss Remsen asked me to say to you that she will not need your services after to-day." "Do you mean that I am discharged?"