The Greek went to the mantlepiece, and taking down a silver cigarette box, opened and offered it to his visitor. Kara was wearing a grey lounge suit; and although grey is a very trying colour for a foreigner to wear, this suit fitted his splendid figure and gave him just that bulk which he needed. “You are a most suspicious man, Mr. Meredith,” he smiled. “Suspicious! I?” asked the innocent T. X. Kara nodded. “I am sure you want to enquire into the character of all my present staff. I am perfectly satisfied that you will never be at rest until you learn the antecedents of my cook, my valet, my secretary--” T. X. held up his hand with a laugh. “Spare me,” he said. “It is one of my failings, I admit, but I have never gone much farther into your domestic affairs than to pry into the antecedents of your very interesting chauffeur.” A little cloud passed over Kara's face, but it was only momentary. “Oh, Brown,” he said, airily, with just a perceptible pause between the two words. “It used to be Smith,” said T. X., “but no matter. His name is really Poropulos.” “Oh, Poropulos,” said Kara gravely, “I dismissed him a long time ago.” “Pensioned hire, too, I understand,” said T. X. The other looked at him awhile, then, “I am very good to my old servants,” he said slowly and, changing the subject; “to what good fortune do I owe this visit?” T. X. selected a cigarette before he replied. “I thought you might be of some service to me,” he said, apparently giving his whole attention to the cigarette. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure,” said Kara, a little eagerly. “I am afraid you have not been very keen on continuing what I hoped would have ripened into a valuable friendship, more valuable to me perhaps,” he smiled, “than to you.” “I am a very shy man,” said the shameless T. X., “difficult to a fault, and rather apt to underrate my social attractions. I have come to you now because you know everybody--by the way, how long have you had your secretary!” he asked abruptly. Kara looked up at the ceiling for inspiration. “Four, no three months,” he corrected, “a very efficient young lady who came to me from one of the training establishments. Somewhat uncommunicative, better educated than most girls in her position--for example, she speaks and writes modern Greek fairly well.” “A treasure!” suggested T. X. “Unusually so,” said Kara. “She lives in Marylebone Road, 86a is the address. She has no friends, spends most of her evenings in her room, is eminently respectable and a little chilling in her attitude to her employer.” T. X. shot a swift glance at the other. “Why do you tell me all this?” he asked. “To save you the trouble of finding out,” replied the other coolly. “That insatiable curiosity which is one of the equipments of your profession, would, I feel sure, induce you to conduct investigations for your own satisfaction.” T. X. laughed. “May I sit down?” he said.