"I suppose it hadn't occurred to you that we might have gone down the back stairway and escaped into the side-street," said Mr. Trotter sarcastically. Mr. Chambers cleared his throat and seemed curiously embarrassed. "Perhaps I should have stated before that a--er--a chap from a local agency was posted at the bottom of the kitchen stairway,--as a favour to me, so to speak. A chap who had been detailed to assist me,--But I shall explain all that in my report. So, you see, you couldn't have gone out that way without--Yes, yes,--as I was saying, I accompanied Mr. Bramble to the dining-room. The cook was in a very bad temper. The dinner was getting cold. I observed that three places had been laid. Fixing my eye upon Mr. Bramble I inquired who the third place was for. I shall never forget his expression, nor the admirable way in which he recovered himself. He was quite wonderful. He said it was for _me_. Rather neat of him, wasn't it?" "You don't mean to say you had the brass to--Well, 'pon my soul, Chambers, that _was_ going it a bit strong." "Under the circumstances, your lordship, I couldn't very well decline," said Mr. Chambers apologetically. "He is such a decent, loyal old chap, sir, that it would have been cruel to let him see that I knew he was lying." "But, confound you, that was _my_ dinner," exclaimed Trotter wrathfully. "So I suspected, your lordship. I knew it _couldn't_ be her ladyship's. Well, we had got on to the coffee, and I was just on the point of asking Mr. Bramble for the loan of an umbrella, when there was a loud thump on the ceiling overhead. An instant later a large piece of plaster fell to the floor, not three feet behind my chair. I--" "By Jove! What a pity it didn't fall three feet nearer," exclaimed Trotter, a note of regret in his voice. Mr. Chambers generously overlooked the remark. "After that it was plain sailing," said he, quite pleasantly. "Now you know how I came to discover you, and how I happen to be here." "And those poor old dears," cried Lady Jane in distress; "where are they? What have you done to them?" "They are--" he looked downward again before answering--"yes, they are holding the ladder for me. Coming, gentlemen!" he called out. "We'll all be down in a jiffy." "Before we go any farther," said Trotter seriously, "I should like to know just what the charge is against me." "Beg pardon?" "The charge. What are you going to chuck me into prison for?" "Prison? My God, sir! Who said anything about prison?" gasped Mr. Chambers, staring wide-eyed at the young man. Trotter leaned forward, his face a study in emotions. Lady Jane uttered a soft little cry. "Then,--then they haven't trumped up some rotten charge against me?" "They? Charge? I say!" He bellowed the last to the supporters below. "Hold this bally thing steady, will you? Do you want me to break my neck?"