"I did not and do not know this man." "Not Mr. Dobson's clerk?" Luke did not answer but went out into the hall. Parker was standing beside the library door which he had just closed, having introduced the visitor into his lordship's presence. "Parker," said Luke abruptly, "what made you tell his lordship that that young gentleman came from Mr. Dobson?" The question had come so suddenly that Parker--pompous, dignified Parker--was thrown off his balance, and the reply which took some time in coming, sounded unconvincing. "The young gentleman," he said slowly, "told me, Mr. Luke, that he came from Mr. Dobson." "No, Parker," asserted Luke unhesitatingly, "he did nothing of the sort. He wanted to see his lordship and got you to help him concoct some lie whereby he could get what he wanted." A grayish hue spread over Parker's pink and flabby countenance. "Lord help me, Mr. Luke," he murmured tonelessly, "how did you know?" "I didn't," replied Luke curtly. "I guessed. Now I know." "I didn't think I was doing no harm." "No harm by introducing into his lordship's presence strangers who might be malefactors?" Already Luke, at Parker's first admission, had gone quickly to the library door. Here he paused, with his hand on the latch, uncertain if he should enter. The house was an old one, well-built and stout; from within came the even sound of a voice speaking quite quietly, but no isolated word could be distinguished. Parker was floundering in a quagmire of confused explanations. "Malefactor, Mr. Luke!" he argued, "that young man was no malefactor. He spoke ever so nicely. And he had plenty of money about him. I didn't see I was doing no harm. He wanted to see his lordship and asked me to help him to it----" "And," queried Luke impatiently, "paid you to help him, eh?" "I thought," replied the man loftily ignoring the suggestion, "that taking in one of Mr. Dobson's cards that was lying in the tray could do no harm. I thought it couldn't do no harm. The young gentleman said his lordship would be very grateful to me when he found out what I'd done." "And how grateful was the young gentleman to you, Parker?" "To the tune of a five-pound note, Mr. Luke." "Then as you have plenty of money in hand, you can pack up your things and get out of this house before I've time to tell his lordship." "Mr. Luke----" "Don't argue. Do as I tell you." "I must take my notice from his lordship," said Parker, vainly trying to recover his dignity. "Very well. You can wait until his lordship has been told." "Mr. Luke----" "Best not wait to see his lordship, Parker. Take my word for it." "Very well, Mr. Luke." There was a tone of finality in Luke's voice which apparently Parker did not dare to combat. The man looked confused and troubled. What had seemed to him merely a venial sin--the taking of a bribe for a trivial service--now suddenly assumed giant proportions--a crime almost, punished by a stern dismissal from Mr. Luke.