“Yes, sir?”

“I was wondering whether under the aforementioned stimulus I had put an advertisement in a newspaper asking for a nursery governess or something of that sort.”

Stevens coughed.

“ Two girls turning up. It looks odd. I shall eschew the Mustard and Cress in future. That’s a good word, Stevens⁠— eschew ⁠—I met it in a crossword the other day and took a fancy to it.”

Whilst he was talking Jimmy was rapidly apparelling himself. At the end of ten minutes he was ready to face his unknown guests. As he opened the door of his sitting-room the first person he saw was a dark, slim girl who was totally unknown to him. She was standing by the mantelpiece, leaning against it. Then his glance went on to the big leather-covered armchair, and his heart missed a beat. Loraine!