gong will
sound in nine and a half minutes."

"Then let it sound and be hanged to it," answered Alan; "no, I forgot--I
must hurry. Jeekie, put that fire out and open all the windows as soon
as I go down. This room is like a hot-house."

"Yes, Major, the fire shall be extinguished and the sleeping-chamber
ventilated. The other boot, if you please, Major."

"Jeekie," said Alan, "who is stopping in this place? Have you heard?"

"I collected some names on my way upstairs, Major. Three of the
gentlemen you have never met before, but," he added suddenly breaking
away from his high-flown book-learned English, as was his custom when
in earnest, "Jeekie think they just black niggers like the rest, thief
people. There ain't a white man in this house, except you and Miss
Barbara and me, Major. Jeekie learnt all that in servant's hall palaver.
No, not now, other time. Everyone tell everything to Jeekie, poor old
African fool, and he look up an answer, 'O law! you don't say so?' but
keep his eyes and ears open all the same."

"I'll be bound you do, Jeekie," replied Alan, laughing again. "Well, go
on keeping them open, and give me those trousers."

"Yes, Major," answered Jeekie, reassuming his grand manner, "I shall
continue to collect information which may prove to your advantage, but
personally I wish that you were clear of the whole caboodle, except Miss
Barbara."

"Hear, hear," ejaculated Alan, "there goes the gong. Mind you come in
and help to wait," and hurrying into his coat he departed downstairs.

The guests were gathered in the hall drinking sherry and bitters, a
proceeding that to Alan's mind set a stamp upon the house. His host, Mr.
Champers-Haswell, came forward and greeted him with much affectionate
enthusiasm, and Alan noticed that he looked very pale, also that his
thoughts seemed to be wandering, for he introduced a French banker to
him as a noted Jew, and the noted Jew as the French banker, although
the distinction between them was obvious and the gentlemen concerned
evidently resented the mistake. Sir Robert Aylward, catching sight of
him, came across the hall in his usual, direct fashion, and shook him by
the hand.

"Glad to see you, Vernon," he said, fixing his piercing eyes upon Alan
as though he were trying to read his thoughts. "Pleasant change this
from the City and all that eternal business, isn't it? Ah! you are
thinking that one is not quite clear of business after all," and he
glanced round at