"Is that everything?" said Valerie. "Almost. There's just this. We ought to arrive by night; but I want you to leave all instructions and go to bed." "I can't do that, doctor. I'll promise not to appear, until you send for me, but----" "That'll do. That's what I want. Don't think I'm being professional. Remember, I've taken Sperm at his word, and spoken more frankly to you than ever I've done in my life." "I'm more than content," said Valerie. "You and Sir Willoughby have been just wonderful." "That's the epithet he and I keep for you, Miss French." They rose and shook hands. "And since of your amazing self-control you've asked no questions, I'll make you a present of an answer. In my opinion, he will recover completely." Valerie caught her breath sharply, began to tremble violently, and then burst into tears. * * * * * Order means much to me, gentlemen. Indeed, I believe in the dame. To fall foul of her ruling does not like me at all. Unless, however, I am to play the diarist, there are times when I have no choice but to retrace my steps. This is one of them. Four windy days must be clapped back on to the hasty calendar--four days, sirs, of which three do not matter, while the fourth, or first--whichever way you look at it--concerns us mightily. In a word, it was upon the eleventh day of March that poor Mr. Slumper was also among the prophets. _66 Bedford Row, London, W.C. 11th March, 1921._ _Dear Sir,_ Anthony Lyveden, Esq. _We understand that this gentleman was recently in your service._ _We have to make to him a communication of the utmost importance, and one which it will be to his great advantage to receive._ _Since, however, we have already addressed to him one letter c/o yourself, to which we have had no reply, and since we have reason to believe that he has quitted your service, we shall be much obliged if you will be so good as to inform us where he may now be found, or, failing that, the address to which he proceeded on leaving your house. If you should be unable to give us this information, we shall be grateful for any suggestion you may be in a position to make as to the probability of his present whereabouts._ _We are, dear sir, Yours faithfully, BULRUSH & Co._ _Joseph Bumble, Esq., The Shrubbery, Hawthorne, Hants._ Mr. Slumper was in the act of preparing to fold the letter before inserting it in the envelope which he had carefully addressed, when he saw the words "Anthony Lyveden." For a moment he stared at them. Then, glancing furtively round, for it was no business of his to read the letters for whose dispatch he was responsible, he subjected the sheet to a hurried perusal.