"This is the door of the plate room," the porter replied. "Anyone enterin' without authority, day or night, sets in action two peals of electric bells, and aut'matic'ly discharges a revolver shot through the sky-light." "How very interesting!" the lady remarked. "Now I must find my picture." She looked round the room, and finally selected one. "Jeremiah Crumpet," said the porter. "A haberdasher by birth, but eventually Junior Warden of our Company. Painted by Merillo. Never gettin' beyond pot'ooks 'imself, he founded the Company's Schools at Ashby de la Zouch." "I'm sure that's the man," said the artist. "I'll bring my things in if I may. Is there a Mrs. ----? Jeckell, thank you. I should like to see her about some water for my paints." "I'll tell you what, Maria," said Mr. Jeckell some hours later. "If she's a hartist I ought to be President of the Royal Academy. I never saw such drawin' in my life. She can't get his face square nohow. He's smilin' in the picture, but she's made him lockjawed an' moonstruck. She says if she can't get him right she'll have to turn him into a shipwreck. She must be what the papers call an himpressionist. She spoke twice about the plate room, so I've wheeled my chair into the 'all to keep my eye on her. I'll go back now and see what she's hup to." Mr. Jeckell would have wondered less at her drawing if he could have seen the note the lady had referred to in his absence: "An attempt will be made during the next three days to steal a cup from the plate chest at the Fellmongers' Hall. For certain reasons warning of this must not come to the authorities from without. Apply for permission to copy painting or to sketch interior, and watch. Should any other than the Company's servant enter the plate room suggest doubt as to his credentials, and do all you can to secure his arrest. Another agent will watch the premises from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m." While Mr. Jeckell was on his way to his chair there came another peal from the front-entrance bell. A man in a bowler hat, and carrying a handbag, was outside. "Mr. Toft has sent me for the Nelson Goblet," he said. The porter was surprised. "Got a note?" he asked. "The guv'ner gave me this," said the man, handing a card, "and the key." "What does he want it for?" Mr. Jeckell asked. "Got a big guzzle on at 'ome. Wants to cut an extra dash in centre-pieces." Mr. Jeckell shook his head gravely, but made no remark. "Come along," he said shortly. He led the way across the vestibule into the Banqueting Hall, where, behind her easel, a lady was evidently busy with her picture. He stopped at a door, which he unlocked, and both men passed through. Barely had they done so when the artist ran from behind her easel into the outer hall. "Mrs. Jeckell! Mrs. Jeckell!" she called out. The porter's wife appeared. "A man has gone into the plate room with your husband. I'm sure he is a thief. Warn Mr. Jeckell to get full authority before he does what this man wants."