witness,
Lady Dashwood, to her having delivered the collar and not the note! All
these witnesses were unconscious of the meaning of the transaction.
She, Mrs. Potten, alone could piece together the evidence and know what
it meant, and it was by a mere chance that she had been able to do this.
If she had not met Mr. Bingham (and she had never met him before in the
street), and if she had not happened to have mentioned the proceeds of
the Sale, she would still be under the impression that the note had been
mislaid.

"And the impertinence of the young woman!" exclaimed Mrs. Potten, as she
paid for her pills. "And she fancies herself in a position of trust, if
you please! She means to figure, if you please, at the head of an
establishment where we send our sons to be kept out of mischief for a
bit! Well, I never heard of anything like it. Why, she'll be tampering
with the bills!"

Mrs. Potten's indignation did not wane as the moments passed, but rather
waxed.

"And her mother is condescending about the engagement! Why," added Mrs.
Potten to herself with emphasis, as she got into her car--"why, if this
had happened with one of my maids, I should have put it into the hands
of the police."

"The Lodgings, King's," she said to the chauffeur. What was she going to
do when she got there?

Mrs. Potten had no intention of bursting into the Lodgings in order to
demand an explanation from Miss Scott. No, thank you, Miss Scott must
wait upon Mrs. Potten. She must come out to Potten End and make her
explanation! But Mrs. Potten was going to the Lodgings merely to ensure
that this would be done on the instant.

"Don't drive in," she called, and getting out of the car she walked into
the court and went up the two shallow steps of the front door and rang
at the bell.

The retrousse nose of Robinson Junior appeared at the opened door. Lady
Dashwood was not at home and was not expected till half-past one. It
was then one o'clock. Mrs. Potten mused for a little and then asked if
she might see Lady Dashwood's maid for a moment. Robinson Junior
suppressed his scornful surprise that any one should want to see Louise,
and ushered Mrs. Potten into the Warden's breakfast-room, and there,
seating herself near the window, she searched for a visiting card and a
pencil. Louise appeared very promptly.

"Madame wishes something?" she remarked as she closed the door behind
her, and stood surveying Mrs. Potten from that distance.

"I do," sa