But she turned out to be not so stupid as we thought. For yesterday there came a ring at the bell. Feeling instinctively that it was the inspector, Celia and I got behind the sofa ... and emerged some minutes later to find Jane alone in the room. "Somebody come to see about an insurance card or something," she said. "I said you were both out, and would he come to-morrow." Technically I suppose we _were_ both out. That is, we were not receiving. "Thank you, Jane," I said stiffly. I turned to Celia. "There you are," I said. "To-morrow something _must_ be done." "I always said I'd do it to-morrow," said Celia. SILVER LININGS "We want some more coal," said Celia suddenly at breakfast. "Sorry," I said, engrossed in my paper, and I passed her the marmalade. "More coal," she repeated. I pushed across the toast. Celia sighed and held up her hand. "Please may I speak to you a moment?" she said, trying to snap her fingers. "Good; I've caught his eye. We want----" "I'm awfully sorry. What is it?" "We want some more coal. Never mind this once whether Inman beat Hobbs or not. Just help me." "Celia, you've been reading the paper," I said in surprise. "I thought you only read the _feuill_--the serial story. How did you know Inman was playing Hobbs?" "Well, Poulton or Carpentier or whoever it is. Look here, we're out of coal. What shall I do?" "That's easy. Order some more. What do you do when you're out of nutmegs?" "It depends if the nutmeg porters are striking." "Striking! Good heavens, I never thought about that." I glanced hastily down the headlines of my paper. "Celia, this is serious. I shall have to think about this seriously. Will you order a fire in the library? I shall retire to the library and think this over." "You can retire to the library, but you can't have a fire there. There's only just enough for the kitchen for two days." "Then come and chaperon me in the kitchen. Don't leave me alone with Jane. You and I and Jane will assemble round the oven and discuss the matter. B-r-r-r. It's cold." "Not the kitchen. I'll assemble with you round the electric light somewhere. Come on." We went into the library and rallied round a wax vesta. It was a terribly cold morning. "I can't think like this," I said, after fifteen seconds' reflection. "I'm going to the office. There's a fire there, anyway." "You wouldn't like a nice secretary," said Celia timidly, "or an office girl, or somebody to lick the stamps?" "I should never do any work if you came," I said, looking at her thoughtfully. "Do come." "No, I shall be all right. I've got shopping to do this morning, and I'm going out to lunch, and I can pay some calls afterwards." "Right. And you might find out what other people are doing, the people you call on. And--er--if you _should_ be left alone in the drawing-room a moment ... and the coal-box is at all adjacent.... You'll have your muff with you, you see, and---- Well, I leave that to you. Do what you can."