Mrs. Povy was delighted to see Calliston back again but she was not going to betray any exultation, as she did not think him worthy of it, so received him with great dignity and formality. Lord Calliston, a tall, slender, dissipated young man, noticed the restraint of her manners and commented thereon at once. "What's the matter with you, Totty," he asked, jocularly. "You are as cross as two sticks--anyone been proposing to you?" "I wouldn't have them if they had," snapped Totty. "No, my lord, there ain't nothing the matter with me as far as I'm aware." "Now, Mrs. Povy, that's nonsense," returned Calliston, disbelievingly. "You're cross about something." "Which ain't to be wondered at," burst out Totty, wrathfully. "Not 'avin' bin brought up to being badgered and worrited by policemen." Calliston turned round in his chair, and looked at her keenly. "What do you mean?" he asked, sharply. "What I say, my lord," replied Totty. "After you 'ad gone some policeman, called Dowker, or Bowker, came here and wanted to know all about you." "Oh, Dowker!" said Calliston, thoughtfully, "that's the detective that arrested poor old Myles." "You know all about it then, my lord?" said Totty, quickly. "I couldn't be in London twenty-four hours without knowing something of the Jermyn Street affair," replied Calliston, coolly. "I know that a woman was found dead, and they arrested my cousin as the murderer, thinking the woman was Lena Sarschine." "And 'aint she?" gasped Mrs. Povy. "No, it was Lady Balscombe that was murdered." "But I thought she went off with you?" "Well, she didn't--shows I'm not as black as I'm painted," replied the young man, "but the worst of it is they seem to think I'm mixed up in the affair, and the detective was down at Brighton yesterday to see me. I quite expect a call from him this morning to find out what I know about the row." "You don't think Mr. Desmond guilty, do you, my Lord?" asked Mrs. Povy, anxiously. "Pish! what a question to ask," said Calliston, contemptuously, "you've been with our family for a long time, Mrs. Povy, and you ought to know our character by this time--Hullo!" as a knock came to the door, "who's that?" The door opened and his valet entered, soft-footed and deferential. "A gentleman to see you, my lord," he said, handing Calliston a card. "Humph! I thought so," said Calliston, glancing at the card; "show Mr. Dowker up, Locker." Locker retired, and Mrs. Povy was about to follow his example when Calliston stopped her. "Don't go, Mrs. Povy," he said, authoritatively, "you saw this man before, so you can hear our interview--I may have to ask you something." Totty acquiesced obediently, and went over to the window while Locker, showing Mr. Dowker into the room, retired, closing the door after him. Calliston opened the conversation at once. "Your name is Dowker--you are a detective--you want to see me about the Jermyn Street murder?"