“Now go to sleep without wasting a moment in worrying over what’s going to happen a few hours hence. We’ll manage nicely. Leave it to me.” And Kitty left it. She was not used to being taken care of, but even the novelty of that experience did not long withstand slumber. In a few minutes she had forgotten it along with her weariness and woes. * * * * * As the porter took their things, Hilda whispered to Kitty— “Don’t look about you; and if you happen to see him, don’t show it. Come along!” Presently, they were driving westwards in an open taxi-cab. It was a lovely morning, and the air was delicious after the confinement of the long journey. “What a nice country colour you have,” Hilda remarked, “but you’re not a country-bred girl, are you?” “Why do you say that?” “Because you take all this as a matter of course.” “You mean that I don’t seem excited? But, you see, I—I’m wondering.” “Where we are going?” said Hilda, taking a quick glance behind. “Am I rude?” “Not at all. A most natural thing to wonder about. Well, at the present, we are going to call—just for a moment—on my rich and only brother, who does not approve of my way of life, though he’s as good as any brother could be. After I have given him a message you are coming home with me for breakfast—and that’s enough to go on with, I hope.” “But you don’t know anything about me!” cried Kitty. Hilda’s smile was very kind. “I certainly don’t know your pedigree, nor the name and address of your dentist; but I believe I could guess almost as much as you could tell me concerning your recent troubles. However, you can tell me what you will, later on. Meantime, take it easy and get up an appetite.” The cab turned to the left, negotiating a maze of streets of varied aspect, and at last drew up at the imposing doorway of Aberdare Mansions. “We shall take our things with us,” said Hilda, “and find another cab when we need it.” In the hall, waiting for the lift, she said: “Now don’t be alarmed. Our friend of last night followed us in another taxi, and has doubtless noted the address. I fancied he would do something like that, and accordingly we have stopped here.” “To put him on a wrong scent!” Kitty exclaimed almost gleefully. “How clever you are!” “Now let’s go up and give my brother the message. Our things can lie here till we come down again. In you go!” They soared to the fourth floor, where the conductress rang at the door on the right. A discreet-looking man-servant opened, and permitted himself to smile a welcome. “Good morning, Sharp,” said Hilda. “We’re not coming in. I want to see Mr. Risk for twenty seconds. As it’s so early, he may come in his dressing-gown. Tell him it’s most urgent.”