Nancy's blue eyes gleamed merrily. "You seem to forget, Doctor Gray," she said, "everybody isn't quite so rapid and trustful as you are. They might, for instance, like to know something about me first." "Well, you can tell 'em," replied Colin. "You haven't been in prison, have you, or anything of that sort? Not that Mark would mind a bit if you had." "What a nice, obliging man!" was the answer. "No, I haven't been in prison, and I don't think I've ever done anything to deserve it. All the same, if any one offered me an engagement they would have to take me absolutely on trust. You see, I have never earned a salary before, so I've got no testimonials." "Yes, you have," objected Colin. "You've got mine and the policeman's. That ought to be enough for any reasonable employer." He glanced at his watch. "Look here," he added eagerly, "if you're doing nothing in particular, why shouldn't we go down there straight away? Mark usually takes half an hour off for tea about four o'clock, so we should just catch them at the right time." "How does one get to Shadwell?" asked Nancy. "I don't even know where it is." Colin jumped up briskly. "I'll drive you down," he said. "I've got a little car in Church Street. I was just going along there to do some repairs." Nancy made a movement of protest. "Oh, but, please----" she said. "I don't want to take up all your afternoon--not if you're busy." "That's all right," observed Colin. "You shove on your hat and coat. I shall have plenty of time to tinker at the car when we get back." With an air of resigned amusement Nancy rose to her feet. "I am trusting entirely to you, Doctor Gray," she said. "If your friends throw me out ignominiously I sha'n't be the least surprised." She collected the tea things, and, crossing the room to the farther corner, disappeared again behind the curtain. After a surprisingly short interval she returned, ready dressed for the journey. "You look ripping," said Colin, eyeing her with frank approval. "I'm longing to see old Mark's face when he hears you're his new secretary." "Well, it's more than I am," remarked Nancy. She paused for a second or two to make a final inspection of herself in the looking glass, and then, following her guest out on to the landing, closed and locked the door behind her. They descended the staircase and were just emerging into the street when a big white Daimler swung into view round the corner of the King's Road. Nancy uttered a little exclamation which sounded like one of annoyance, but before she could speak the driver turned in toward the pavement and drew up alongside of them. He proved to be a tall, clean-shaven, middle-aged man, with rather dissipated blue eyes. "Hullo, young lady," he said, raising his hat, "where are you off to? I was coming along to take you out for a drive." Nancy acknowledged his greeting without any apparent enthusiasm.