eet or, rather, the back lane
where carters made deliveries.

At times this carefully planned office arrangement was found to be
highly convenient, no less by the confidential Mr. Ferguson than by
certain of his clients. For although Blatchford Ferguson, barrister,
etc., really could--and did--go barristering about the courts quite
legitimately, he also carried on a substantial business in et ceteras.
Thus, he could talk to an insurance prospect in a private office
provided with insurance files and hung with insurance company
calendars; or he could talk to a possible investor in a private office
which had just the right financial atmosphere to foster confidence.
Buying, selling, borrowing, lending, advising--nothing that could be
"farmed out" on a split commission was beneath the notice of Blatch
Ferguson, who would have negotiated a deal for a carload of Russian
whiskers could he have found a responsible master barber to make the
contract with a mattress factory which had the price!

As he shook hands with Conway, the young student who presided over the
outer office, Kendrick was conscious that the office boy and the
stenographers behind him were enjoying the mild sensation which his
black eye inspired. Even Conway was grinning like an idiotic cat from
Cheshire. The two had known each other, somewhat casually, at the
university.

"I bumped into the parallel bars during a game of volley ball at the
gym the other night," he explained gravely. "Is Ferguson in?"

Conway told him to walk right through. Miss Williams would take in his
card. Thus it came about that Phil, unescorted, passed through the
gate in the railing and on through the door to the secretary's office.
As he closed this door behind him he paused for a moment in some
uncertainty at finding the secretary's office deserted. Her hat and
coat were hanging in place, however, and a half finished letter was in
her typewriter; so he ventured through to the open doorway beyond,
thinking she might have stepped into the adjoining office.

She had. She had gone right through it and through the second office
of the suite also. The young lady was visible through the vista of
open doorways and she was so absorbed in her own activities that she
was quite oblivious of his presence. For she was kneeling with her ear
to the keyhole of the farthest door of all, the one which led into the
_sanctum sanctorum_ of her employer, and there was no doubt whatever
that s