"Man," he said, "you're a long way down in the valley. You'll have to climb. Vice and virtue are little else save relative terms. They number their adherents by accident rather than choice." "You mean that it is all a matter of temptation?" Holderness laughed. They had passed into the land of silent streets. Their own rooms were close at hand. "Wait a little time," he said. "Some day you'll understand." CHAPTER XVIII LETTY'S DILEMMA "You are quite sure," the girl said anxiously, "that Miss Thorpe-Hatton wants to see me? You see there's a train at ten o'clock I could catch." The housekeeper looked up from the menu she was writing, and tapped the table impatiently with her pencil. "My dear child," she said, "is it likely I should keep you here without orders? We have sent a telegram to your mother, and you are to wait until the mistress is ready to see you." "What time does she generally get down?" Letty asked. "Any time," Mrs. Brown answered, resuming her task. "She was back early last night, only stayed an hour at the ball, so she may send for you at any moment. Don't fidget about so, there's a good girl. I'm nervous this morning. We've twenty-four people dining, and I haven't an idea in my head. I'm afraid I shall have to send for François." "Is François the man-cook who comes down to Thorpe?" Letty asked. Mrs. Brown nodded. "The _chef_ you should call him," she answered. "A very clever man, no doubt, in his way, but takes a lot of keeping in order." "Do you have to look after all the servants?" Letty asked. "Doesn't Miss Thorpe-Hatton ever order anything?" Mrs. Brown looked pityingly at her guest. "My dear child," she said, "I doubt if she could tell you to three or four how many servants there are in the house, and as to ordering anything, I don't suppose such a thought's ever entered into her head. Here's James coming. Perhaps it's a message for you." A footman entered and greeted Letty kindly. "Good morning, young lady!" he said. "You are to go into the morning-room at once." Letty rose with alacrity. "Is--is she there?" she asked nervously. "She is," the man answered, "and if I were you, miss, I wouldn't do much more than just answer her questions and skedaddle. I haven't had any conversation with her myself, but mademoiselle says she's more than a bit off it this morning. Slept badly or something." "Don't frighten the child, James," Mrs. Brown said reprovingly. "She's not likely to say much to you, my dear. You hurry along, and come back and have a glass of wine and a biscuit before you go. Show her the way, James." "If you please, miss," the man answered, becoming once more an automaton.