"Well, I want you to come and act as my ambassador. There is a young lady in the motor outside who is in need of somewhere to sleep and some kind and sensible person to look after her. I know Mrs. Spalding lets rooms, and although it's rather a queer time of night to receive a new lodger, I thought that if you came and put the case to her tactfully, she might stretch a point to oblige me." Spalding's face remained beautifully expressionless. "I am sure my wife would do anything to oblige you, sir," he observed. "If you will excuse my saying so, you stand very high in her good opinion, sir." "Indeed!" said Tony. "I am afraid you must be an extraordinarily deceitful husband, Spalding." The butler bowed. "I make a point, sir, of only repeating incidents which seem to me likely to appeal to her." "A very excellent habit," said Tony gravely. "Get on your hat and coat, and we will see how it works out in practice." A few minutes later, with Spalding sitting on the front seat alongside of Jennings, they were retracing their way across the Heath. On reaching the main thoroughfare they turned up one of the little steep streets that run off to the right, and came to a halt in front of an old-fashioned row of small white houses, standing back behind narrow slips of garden. Spalding opened the gate for them, and then leading the way up the path, let them in at the front door with a latch-key. A feeble flicker of gas was burning in the hall. "If you will wait in here, sir," he observed, opening a door on the right, "I will go upstairs and acquaint my wife with your arrival." The room he showed them into, though small in size and simply furnished, was a remarkably pleasant little apartment. In the first place, everything was scrupulously clean, and the general impression of cheerful freshness was heightened by a couple of bowls of hyacinths in full bloom which stood on a table in the window. "How does this appeal to the taste of Isabel?" inquired Tony, lighting himself another cigarette. "Why it's charming!" she exclaimed. "I shall be so happy if I can stay here. It all seems so free and lovely after--" she checked herself--"after where I have been living," she finished. "Well, I hope it will all be up to sample," said Tony, "I can't imagine Spalding being content with anything second rate--at least judging by his taste in wine and cigars." He paused. "What time would you like breakfast in the morning?" "Breakfast?" she repeated. "I always call it breakfast," explained Tony. "It is such a much healthier sounding word than lunch. Suppose I send the car round for you about eleven? Would that be too early?" She shook her head, smiling. "I expect I could manage it," she said. "You see I generally get up at eight o'clock." "We could have it a little earlier if you like," remarked Tony unselfishly.