"This—this is perfectly incredible," he said slowly. "It is, indeed," she said, placing a snowy finger upon an electric button and retaining it there. He regarded her without comprehension, muttering: "I—I simply cannot realize it—that cat—those g-garments—you——" "There is another thing you don’t realize," she said with heightened color, "that I am steadily ringing the janitor’s bell—and the janitor is large and violent and Irish, and he is probably halfway upstairs by this time——" "Do you take me for a malefactor?" he asked, astounded. "I am not afraid of you in the least," she retorted, still keeping her finger on the bell. "Afraid of _me_? Of course you are not." "I am _not_! Although your two suit cases are probably packed with the silver from my dressing stand." "What!" "Then—then—what have you put into your suit cases? _What_ are you doing in this apartment? And will you please leave your suit cases and escape immediately?" Her voice betrayed a little unsteadiness now, and Edgerton said: "Please don’t be frightened if I seem to remain——" "You _are_ remaining!" "Of course, I am." He forced an embarrassed smile. "I’ve got to; I haven’t any other place to go. There are all kinds of complications here, and I think you had better listen to me and stop ringing. The janitor is out anyway." "He is _not_!" she retorted, now really frightened; "I can hear him coming up the stairway—probably with a p-pistol——" Edgerton turned red. "When I next set eyes on that janitor," he said, "I’ll probably knock his head off.... _Don’t_ be frightened! I only meant it humorously. Really, you must listen to me, because you and I have some rather important matters to settle within the next few minutes." In his growing perplexity and earnestness he placed his suit cases on the rug and advanced a step toward her, and she shrank away, her hands flat against the wall behind her, the beautiful, frightened eyes fixed on his—and he halted. "I haven’t the slightest notion who you are," he said, bewildered; "but I’m pretty sure that I’m James Edgerton, and that this is my apartment. But how you happen to be inhabiting it I can’t guess, unless that rascally janitor sublet it to you supposing that I’d be away for another year and never know it." "_You_!—James Edgerton!" she exclaimed. "My steamer docked yesterday." "_You_ are James Edgerton?—of Edgerton, Tennant & Co.?" He began to laugh. "I _was_ James Edgerton, of Edgerton, Tennant & Co.; I am now only a silent partner in Fate, Destiny & Co.... If you don’t mind—if you please—who are _you_?" "Why, I’m Diana Tennant!" "_Who?_" "Diana Tennant! Haven’t you ever heard of my sister and me?" "You mean you’re those two San Francisco nieces?" he asked, astonished. "I’m one of them. Silvette is sitting on the roof." "On—the _roof_!"