"Oh, a friend told me." "What kind of accommodations do you require?" Jack was hard put to it to keep from laughing in her face. Up till now he had been standing in the vestibule with the light behind him. But as Kate stood aside from the door, he stepped in and turned around, so thus his make-up was put to a full test. "A room in the back," he, said, "away from the noises of the street. And not too high up. The second story rear would suit me very well." "I'm sorry," she said soberly, "that room is already taken." Jack could contain himself no longer. There was no one near. He took off his glasses and smiled his own smile. "Don't you know me?" he whispered. Kate gasped and fell back a step. "Oh! I wasn't expecting you so soon!" Jack chuckled. A charwoman with bucket and brush came through the hall, and they were obliged to pull themselves together quickly. "The gentleman who said he wanted that room may not come back," said Kate. "I'll show it to you anyway." She led him upstairs. She had not yet touched Silas Gyde's room, and as they went in she was obliged to close the door after them to keep the people in the house from seeing the strange conglomeration inside. Jack seized her hand. "Katy, darling, you take my breath away, you're so wonderful!" he said, trying to draw her towards him. She would have none of that. "Behave yourself!" she said crushingly. "You know very well why I had to close the door! How can I go on with this if you're going to act in such a way! Please remember who you're supposed to be! Do you suppose I'm going to be familiar with my lodgers!" "Oh, I forgot everything except how sweet you are!" groaned Jack. "Look in the glass!" she said. "Do you suppose I want that yellow face near mine?" He frowned and rubbed his chin ruefully, not quite knowing how to take this left-handed compliment. "But--but I shan't be able to see you for ages, except as Pitman," he complained. "Well, I shall survive it," she said briskly. "Aw, Katy!" She changed the subject in her own prompt way. "It's really a wonderful disguise!" she said. "How ever did you do it?" He told her of his experience with Evers. "And you," he said, "you haven't let any grass grow under your feet. You can open up to-morrow." "Hardly that. My greatest problem is this room. How can I let the cleaners in here?" "You and I had better do this," said Jack, careful not to betray any pleasure in the prospect. "How can you find time?" "I'll send Bobo to a musical comedy to-night, and slip in through the vault. That is if you'll be here to-night." "I've already fitted up a room for Mother and I. We'll be here." "Good!" said Jack. The prospect of a stolen interview with the demure Kate was unspeakably delightful. He told her something of his adventures the night before. "What a fool you have on your hands!" said Kate scornfully. "You'd better hurry back and see what he's up to now." "But I've heaps more to tell you."