"No offence is intended, ma'am," broke in Mr. Chambers. "Absolutely no offence. It is merely in the line of duty that I come. In plain words, I have been instructed to apprehend Lord Eric Temple and fetch him to London. You see, I am quite frank about it. You can aid me by being as frank in return, ladies." By this time Jane had regained command of herself. Drawing herself up, she faced the detective, and, casting discretion to the winds, took a most positive and determined stand. "I must decline,--no matter what the cost may be to myself,--to give you the slightest assistance concerning Lord Temple." To their infinite amazement, the man bowed very courteously and said: "I shall not insist. Pardon my methods and my intrusion. I shall trouble you no further. Good day, madam. Good day, your ladyship." He took his leave at once, leaving them staring blankly at the closed door. He was satisfied. He had found out just what he wanted to know, and he was naturally in some haste to get out before they began putting embarrassing questions to him. "Oh, dear," murmured Jane, distractedly. "What _are_ we to do? Scotland Yard! That can mean but one thing. His enemies at home have brought some vile, horrible charge against--" "We must warn him at once, Jane. There is no time to be lost. Telephone to the garage where Mrs. Millidew--" "But the man doesn't know that Eric is driving for Mrs. Millidew," broke in Jane, hopefully. "He _will_ know, and in very short order," said the other, sententiously. "Those fellows are positively uncanny. Go at once and telephone." She hesitated a moment, looking a little confused and guilty. "Lay aside your work, dear, for the time being. There is nothing very urgent about it, you know." In sheer desperation she had that very morning set her restless charge to work copying names out of the _Social Register_,--names she had checked off at random between the hours of ten and two the previous night. Jane's distress increased to a state bordering on anguish. "Oh, dear! He--he is out of town for two or three days." "Out of town?" "He told me last night he was to be off early this morning for Mrs. Millidew's country place somewhere on Long Island. Mrs. Millidew had to go down to see about improvements or repairs or something before the house is opened for the season." "Mrs. Millidew was in the shop this morning for a 'try-on,'" said the other. "She has changed her plans, no doubt." Jane's honest blue eyes wavered slightly as she met her friend's questioning gaze. "I think he said that young Mrs. Millidew was going down to look after the work for her mother-in-law." CHAPTER XVII FRIDAY FOR LUCK