He bowed in a superior way at the compliment of the recollection, though as junior member of the firm of Hunter, Fessenden and Baldwin he had played in court what the actors know as a "thinking part" as the guardian of a stack of law books from which his more celebrated partners drew their inspiration. "For the defense," admitted Mr. Baldwin. "A very interesting case." "Oh, don’t get him started on that, Mr. Hampden," said Miss Kendrick. "I’ve lectured him on the wickedness of being in the hire of that awful Peter Bolton, but he’s quite incorrigible. I’ve something much more important to talk to him about." "I am all ears," said Mr. Baldwin, unbending graciously. It was marvelous to note the difference in his manner of addressing us. "Not so bad as that!" said Miss Kendrick. "Well, it’s a case of knight-errantry that Mr. Hampden has engaged in, and your help is needed." "Oh," said Mr. Baldwin, "my services are tendered only to beauty in distress." "That’s exactly the case," said Miss Kendrick. "It isn’t Mr. Hampden who is to be rescued. It’s a lady fair. She’s locked up in the ogre’s castle and I want her taken out." "Very good," said Mr. Baldwin. "Would any particular time suit you? It lacks three hours yet of midnight." "Oh, it must be done right away," said Miss Kendrick. "Well," I said, "Mr. Baldwin should be enlightened as to the chief difficulty. There’s no trouble in getting the lady in the case. The principal thing is to know what to do with her after she’s rescued." I began to hope that Mr. Baldwin might know of some proper custodian for the Chinese girl. "Why, Mr. Hampden is to marry her out of hand, I suppose," said he. "That’s the way it used to run in the old story-books." "Thank you, no," I laughed. "I resign my claim to Mr. Baldwin in advance." "I don’t think it would do," said Miss Kendrick, shaking her head sagely. "Besides, there are other conditions to be fulfilled. But I truly want your counsel, Mr. Baldwin." "At your service. Let me hear the case." Thereupon Miss Kendrick stated the problem of the Chinese girl. "Now," she continued, "unless you can suggest some better way, I want her brought here." "Well, my advice, since you have asked it, is to have nothing to do with the affair," said Mr. Baldwin. "Oh, that wasn’t the part I wanted to ask you about," said Miss Kendrick composedly. "I want to find if you know anybody better fitted than I am to take charge of her under the conditions--some older person, you know, for I’m not so venerable as I’m afraid I shall be some day." Mr. Baldwin appeared to be no better pleased than I with the idea of having Miss Kendrick take charge of the girl. "These are not the sort of people you should have to do with," he began, when she stopped him. "Were you going to say that you knew of somebody who can do it better than I? Because if you weren’t, the sooner you and Mr. Hampden start on your expedition the sooner you’ll be coming back."