Jimmy, for his part, was cursing the ill fortune that had brought Lord Wisbeach across his path. He saw clearly that it only needed recognition by one or two more intimates of Jimmy Crocker to make Ann suspect his real identity. The fact that she had seen him with Bayliss in Paddington Station and had fallen into the error of supposing Bayliss to be his father had kept her from suspecting until now; but this could not last forever. He remembered Lord Wisbeach well, as a garrulous, irrepressible chatterer who would probably talk about old times to such an extent as to cause Ann to realise the truth in the first five minutes. The door opened. "Lord Wisbeach," announced Mr. Crocker. "I'm afraid I'm late, Mrs. Pett," said his lordship. "No. You're quite punctual. Lord Wisbeach, here is an old friend of yours, James Crocker." There was an almost imperceptible pause. Then Jimmy stepped forward and held out his hand. "Hello, Wizzy, old man!" "H-hello, Jimmy!" Their eyes met. In his lordship's there was an expression of unmistakable relief, mingled with astonishment. His face, which had turned a sickly white, flushed as the blood poured back into it. He had the appearance of a man who had had a bad shock and is just getting over it. Jimmy, eyeing him curiously, was not surprised at his emotion. What the man's game might be, he could not say; but of one thing he was sure, which was that this was not Lord Wisbeach, but--on the contrary--some one he had never seen before in his life. "Luncheon is served, madam!" said Mr. Crocker sonorously from the doorway. CHAPTER XV A LITTLE BUSINESS CHAT