“How is that for nerve?” asked Derrick. “I should imagine you’d have something to say to the young lady,” was the Commissioner’s only comment. Derrick Yale was very seldom conventional, either in his speech or his behaviour, but for once he found it difficult to deal with a painful situation other than in the time-honoured way. The girl had reached the office a few minutes before him, and she was taking off her hat when he came in. “One moment, Miss Drummond,” he said. “I have a few words to say to you before you continue your work. Why were you away from the office at lunch time? I particularly asked you to be here.” “And Mr. Willings particularly asked me to go to lunch,” said Thalia with an innocent smile, “and as he is a member of the Government, I am sure you would not have liked me to refuse.” “How did you come to know Mr. Willings?” She looked at him up and down with that cool, insolent glance of hers. “There are many ways one may meet men,” she said. “One may advertise for them in the matrimonial newspapers, or one may meet them in the park, or one may be introduced to them. I was introduced to Mr. Willings.” “When?” “This morning,” she said, “at about two o’clock. I sometimes go to dances at Merros Club,” she explained. “It is the relaxation which my youth excuses. That is where we became acquainted.” Yale took some money from his pocket and laid it on the desk. “There is your week’s wages, Miss Drummond,” he said without heat. “I shall not require your services after this afternoon.” She raised her eyebrows. “Aren’t you going to reform me?” she asked him so seriously that he was taken aback. Then he laughed. “You’re beyond reformation. There are many things I will excuse, and had there been a serious shortage in the petty cash, I could have overlooked that. But I cannot allow you to leave my office when I give you explicit instructions to stay here.” She picked up the money and counted it. “Exactly the sum,” she mocked. “You must be Scottish, Mr. Yale.” “There is only one way that you could be reformed, Thalia Drummond.” His voice was very earnest, and he seemed to experience a difficulty in finding the right words. “And what is that, pray?” “For a man to marry you. I’m almost inclined to make the experiment.” She sat on the edge of the desk and rocked with silent laughter. “You are funny,” she said at last, “and now I see that you are a true reformer.” She was solemnity itself now. “Confess, Mr. Yale, that you only look upon me as an experiment, and that you have no more affection for me than I have for that aged and decrepit blue-bottle crawling up the wall.” “I’m not in love with you, if that is what you mean.” “I did mean something of the sort,” she said. “No, on the whole, I think I’ll take my dismissal and my week’s wages, and thank you for giving me the opportunity of meeting and serving such a brilliant genius.”