"You rang for me, Mrs. Sparflight?" she inquired, with a quick glance at the stranger. Mrs. Sparflight blinked rapidly. "Not at all,--not at all. I did not ring." Miss Emsdale looked puzzled. "I am sure the buzzer--" "Pardon me," said Mr. Chambers, easily. "I fancy I can solve the mystery. Accidentally,--quite accidentally, I assure you,--I put my hand on the button on your desk, Mrs. Sparflight,--while you were glancing at the photograph. Like this,--do you see?" He put his hand on the top of the desk and leaned forward, just as he had done when he joined her in studying the picture a few moments before. A hot flush mounted to Mrs. Sparflight's face, and her eyes flashed. The next instant she smiled. "You are most resourceful, Mr. Chambers," she said. "It happens, however, that your cleverness gains you nothing. This young lady is one of our stenographers. I think I said that Miss Emsdale is my private secretary. She has no connection whatever with the business office. The button you inadvertently pressed simply disturbed one of the girls in the next room. You may return to your work, Miss Henry." She carried it off very well. Jane, sensing danger, was on the point of retiring,--somewhat hurriedly, it must be confessed,--when Mr. Chambers, in his most apologetic manner, remarked: "May I have a word with you, your ladyship?" It was a bold guess, encouraged by his discovery that the young lady was not only English but of a class distinctly remote from shops and stenography. Under the circumstances, Jane may be forgiven for dissembling, even at the cost of her employer's honour. She stopped short, whirled, and confronted the stranger with a look in her eyes that convicted her immediately. Her hand flew to her heart, and a little gasp broke from her parted lips. Mr. Chambers was smiling blandly. She looked from him to Mrs. Sparflight, utter bewilderment in her eyes. "Oh, Lord!" muttered that lady in great dismay. The man from Scotland Yard hazarded another and even more potential stroke while the iron was hot. "I am from Scotland Yard," he said. "We make some mistakes there, I admit, but not many." He proceeded to lie boldly. "I know who you are, my lady, and--But it is not necessary to go into that at present. Do not be alarmed. You have nothing to fear from me,--or from Scotland Yard. I--" "Well, I should hope _not_!" burst out Mrs. Sparflight indignantly. "What does he want?" cried Jane, in trepidation. She addressed her friend, but it was Mr. Chambers who answered. "I want you to supply me with a little information concerning Lord Eric Temple,--whom you addressed last evening as James." Jane began to tremble. Scotland Yard! "The man is crazy," said Mrs. Sparflight, leaping into the breach. "By what right, sir, do you come here to impose your--"