'What did she mean by it, then?' Mr. Dering murmured. 'Who put her on to such a suspicion? What did she mean by it? Of course it's nonsense.' So reassuring himself, he yet remained disquieted. For he could not remember. At half-past five or so, Mr. Edmund Gray arrived at his Chambers. The outer door was closed, but he found his disciple waiting for him. She had been there an hour or more, she said. She was reading one of the books he had recommended to her. With the words of Mr. Dering in her ears, she read as if two voices were speaking to her--talking to each other across her. She laid down the book and rose to greet him. 'Master,' she said, 'I have come from Mr. Dering. He is your solicitor, you told me.' 'Assuredly. He manages my affairs.' 'It is curious--I asked him if he knew you--and he said that he knew nothing about you.' 'That is curious, certainly. My solicitor for--for many years. He must have mistaken the name. Or--he grows old--perhaps he forgets people.' 'Do you often see him?' 'I saw him this morning. I took him my letter to the _Times_. He is narrow--very narrow, in his views. We argued the thing for a bit. But, really, one might as well argue with a stick as with Dering when Property is concerned. So he forgets, does he? Poor old chap! He forgets--well--we all grow old together!' He sighed. 'It is his time to-day and mine to-morrow.--My Scholar, let us talk.' The Scholar left her Master at seven. On her way out she ran against Checkley, who was prowling round the court. 'You!' he cried. 'You! Ah! I've caught you, have I? On Saturday afternoon I thought I see you going into No. 22. Now I've caught you coming out, have I?' 'Checkley,' she said, 'if you are insolent, I shall have to speak to Mr. Dering;' and walked away. 'There's another of 'em,' Checkley murmured, looking after her--'a hardened one, if ever there was. All for her lover and her brother! A pretty nest of 'em. And calls herself a lady!' CHAPTER XXVI THE LESSON OF THE STREET 'Child,' said the Master, 'it is time that you should take another lesson.' 'I am ready. Let us begin.' She crossed her hands in her lap and looked up obedient. 'Not a lesson this time from books. A practical lesson from men and women, boys and girls, children and infants in arms. Let us go forth and hear the teaching of the wrecks and the slaves. I will show you creatures who are men and women mutilated in body and mind--mutilated by the social order. Come, I will show you, not by words, but by sight, why Property must be destroyed.'