“And leave you here?” “Why not? I’ve got my box of bricks. But I can’t have you ill, my lady. Therefore be wise. Take a fortnight out of the shambles, and you’ll come back thirsting for blood.” “Don’t you believe it,” said Blanche. “Well, by then the boom may have cracked. Or I may have had enough. One never can tell. But I beg that you’ll do as I say. I’ve only one wife.” After a little Mrs. Cheviot allowed herself to be persuaded, and, promising to clean up and follow within half an hour, Titus put her into a taxi and sent her home. Returning to the office, he resumed his seat at the table and opened a drawer of which only he and the principal secretary possessed duplicate keys. Here lay two files, respectively labelled “ANSWERED” and “UNANSWERED.” Cheviot took out the latter. Somewhat to his relief, it contained but one letter. The day before it had contained three. Titus proceeded to read it with a faint frown. _Malison Hall,_ _Kent._ _November 14th._ _The Manager of Cheviot’s,_ _68, Old Bond Street, W._ _SIR,_ _Upon returning from abroad yesterday after an absence of some months I was dumbfounded to find that the character of the great hall of this residence had been deliberately and ruthlessly destroyed._ _I am informed that it was upon your advice that this destruction was carried out. I am informed that you recommended that the superb panelling should be torn down, the Grinling Gibbons mantelpiece replaced by a steel platform, which is, of course, already covered with rust, and the heavily timbered ceiling overlaid with plaster and then so treated as to resemble inferior linoleum. I am further informed that when this and other devilry had been executed, you had the audacity to express yourself satisfied with the result, the impudence to stencil the ceiling with the badge of your firm and the face to accept a cheque for three hundred guineas by way of payment for the abominable outrage which you have committed upon this and two other chambers, the present condition of which I prefer not to describe._ _This morning I consulted my solicitors only to learn that, since you were requested to advise and then unaccountably requested to approve your vile handiwork by Mrs. Blatchbourne, your villainous conduct is within the Law, but I find some slight measure of relief in warning you that I shall do my utmost by word and deed to expose what is nothing less than a gang of dangerous charlatans who are inducing a lot of idiots to pay unheard-of prices to have their apartments desecrated and their sense of decency demoralized._