Mrs. Janney’s first point of call was a strange place in which to look for a nursery governess. It was the office of Whitney & Whitney, her lawyers, far downtown near Wall Street. She was at once conducted into Mr. Whitney’s sanctum, for besides being an important client she was a personal friend. He moved forward to meet her—a large, slightly stooped, heavily built man with a shock of thick gray hair, and eyes, singularly clear and piercing, overshadowed by bushy brows. His son, George, was sent for, and after greetings, jolly and intimate, they settled down to talk over Mrs. Janney’s business. She told them the situation and her needs—could _they_ find the sort of person she wanted. She knew they employed detectives of all sorts and Kissam’s men had been so lacking in energy and so stupid that she wanted no more of that kind. She had to have a woman of whose character they were assured, and sufficiently presentable to pass muster with the master and the servants. Mr. Whitney gave a look at his son and they exchanged a smile. "Go and see if you can get her on the wire, George," he said, "and if she’s willing tell her to come down right now." Then as the young man left the room he turned to Mrs. Janney. "I know the very person, the best in New York, if she’ll undertake it." "Some one who’s thoroughly reliable and can fit into the place?" "My dear friend, she’s as reliable as you are and that’s saying a good deal. As to fitting in, leave that to her. In her natural state there are still some rough edges, but when she’s playing a part they don’t show. She’s smart enough to hide them." "Who is she—a detective?" "Not a real one, not a professional. She was a telephone girl and then she made a good marriage—fellow named Babbitts, star reporter on the _Despatch_. She’s in love and happy and prosperous, but now and again she’ll do work for us. It’s partly for old sakes’ sake and partly because she has the passion of the artist—can’t resist if the call comes to her. She came to our notice during the Hesketh case—did some of the cleverest work I ever saw and got Reddy out of prison. The Reddys are among her best friends—can’t do too much for her." Mrs. Janney, who knew the beautiful Mrs. Reddy, was impressed. "Do you think she’ll come?" she asked anxiously. He gave her a meaning look and nodded; "Yes. It’s an unusually interesting case."