She spoke, as she often did, in a perfunctory way, as if not interested in what she was saying. Her glance wandered and she bit her red lower lip, as if nervous herself. Yet she was exceedingly quiet and calm of demeanor, and her graceful attitudes betokened only a courteous if disinterested guest. Gordon Lockwood immediately followed his chief and tapped at the locked study door. “All right, Lockwood,” Waring recognized the knock. “I don’t want you now. I’ll reappear shortly. Go back to the tea room.” Willingly, Lockwood went back, hoping to have a chance for conversation with Miss Mystery. She was chatting gayly with Helen Peyton, Pinky and Mrs. Tyler. To Lockwood’s surprise, Miss Austin was really gay and merry and quite held her own in the chaff and repartee. Yet as Lockwood noted her more closely, his quick perception told him her gayety was forced. The secretary’s ability to read human nature was almost uncanny, and he truly believed the girl was making merry only by reason of her firm determination to do so. Why? He wondered. Gordon Lockwood was a rare type of man. He was possessed of the most impassive face, the most immobile countenance imaginable. He never allowed himself to show the slightest excitement or even interest. This habit, acquired purposely at first, had grown upon him until it was second nature. He would not admit anything could move him, could stir his poise or disturb his equanimity. He heard the most gratifying or the most exasperating news with equal attention and equal lack of surprise or enthusiasm. Yet, though this may sound unattractive, so great was Lockwood’s personality, so responsive and receptive his real nature beneath his outer calm, that all who really knew him liked him and trusted him. Waring depended on him in every respect. He was more than a secretary to his employer. He was counselor and friend as well. And Waring appreciated this, and rated Lockwood high in his esteem and affection. Of course, with his insight, Gordon Lockwood could not be blind to the fact that both Mrs. Peyton and her daughter would be pleased if he could fall a victim to the charms of the fair Helen. Nor could he evade the conviction that Mrs. Peyton herself had entertained hopes of becoming mistress of the Waring home, until the advent of Emily Bates had spoiled her chances. But these things were merely self-evident facts, and affected in no way the two men concerned. The Peytons were treated with pleasant regard for both, and that ended the matter so far as they were concerned. The subject had never been alluded to by Waring or Lockwood, but each understood, and when the Doctor’s marriage took place, that would automatically end the Peytons’ incumbency. And now, Gordon Lockwood smiled patronizingly at himself, as he was forced to admit an unreasonable, inexplicable interest in a slip of a girl with a dark, eerie little face and a manner grave and gay to extremes.