"Never," said Bundle. "Well, I'm taking special pains with that. It went on for years and was very complicated. I'm making it my subject. Nowadays one has to specialize." "I've got a lot of the same sort of things," said Bundle. "Aunt Marcia gave them to me." "Aunt who?" "Aunt Marcia--Father's sister-in-law. She's very political. In fact, she's going to get me invited to George's party." "No? Oh, I say, that will be splendid." There was a pause and then Jimmy said: "I say, I don't think we'd better tell Loraine that--eh?" "Perhaps not." "You see, she mayn't like being out of it. And she really must be kept out of it." "Yes." "I mean you can't let a girl like that run into danger!" Bundle reflected that Mr. Thesiger was slightly deficient in tact. The prospect of _her_ running into danger did not seem to give him any qualms whatever. "Have you gone away?" asked Jimmy. "No, I was only thinking." "I see. I say, are you going to the inquest to-morrow?" "Yes; are you?" "Yes. By the way, it's in the evening papers. But tucked away in a corner. Funny--I should have thought they'd have made rather a splash about it." "Yes--so should I." "Well," said Jimmy, "I must be getting on with my task. I've just got to where Bolivia sent us a Note." "I suppose I must get on with my little lot," said Bundle. "Are you going to swot at it all the evening?" "I think so. Are you?" "Oh, probably. Good-night." They were both liars of the most unblushing order. Jimmy Thesiger knew perfectly well that he was taking Loraine Wade out to dinner. As for Bundle, no sooner had she rung off than she attired herself in various nondescript garments belonging, as a matter of fact, to her maid. And having donned them, she sallied out on foot deliberating whether bus or tube would be the best route by which to reach the Seven Dials Club. CHAPTER XIII THE SEVEN DIALS CLUB Bundle reached 14 Hunstanton Street about 6 P.M. At that hour, as she rightly judged, the Seven Dials Club was a dead spot. Bundle's aim was a simple one. She intended to get hold of the ex-footman Alfred. She was convinced that once she had got hold of him the rest would be easy. Bundle had a simple autocratic method of dealing with retainers. It seldom failed, and she saw no reason why it should fail now. The only thing of which she was not certain was how many people inhabited the club premises. Naturally she wished to disclose her presence to as few people as possible. Whilst she was hesitating as to her best line of attack, the problem was solved for her in a singularly easy fashion. The door of No. 14 opened and Alfred himself came out. "Good-afternoon, Alfred," said Bundle pleasantly. Alfred jumped. "Oh! good-afternoon, your ladyship. I--I didn't recognize your ladyship just for a moment." Paying a tribute in her own mind to her maid's clothing, Bundle proceeded to business.