old Georgian houses in this historic thoroughfare, he would lose to the
extent of a shilling.

He peered forward through the semi-darkness as he neared the door of his
offices.

"I've lost," he said, and stripped his gloves preparatory to groping in
his pocket for a coin.

Somebody was standing in the entrance, but it was obviously a very
respectable somebody. A dumpy, motherly somebody in a seal-skin coat and
a preposterous bonnet.

"Hullo," said T. X. in surprise, "are you trying to get in here?"

"I want to see Mr. Meredith," said the visitor, in the mincing affected
tones of one who excused the vulgar source of her prosperity by
frequently reiterated claims to having seen better days.

"Your longing shall be gratified," said T. X. gravely.

He unlocked the heavy door, passed through the uncarpeted passage--there
are no frills on Government offices--and led the way up the stairs to
the suite on the first floor which constituted his bureau.

He switched on all the lights and surveyed his visitor, a comfortable
person of the landlady type.

"A good sort," thought T. X., "but somewhat overweighted with lorgnettes
and seal-skin."

"You will pardon my coming to see you at this hour of the night," she
began deprecatingly, "but as my dear father used to say, 'Hopi soit qui
mal y pense.'"

"Your dear father being in the garter business?" suggested T. X.
humorously. "Won't you sit down, Mrs. ----"

"Mrs. Cassley," beamed the lady as she seated herself. "He was in the
paper hanging business. But needs must, when the devil drives, as the
saying goes."

"What particular devil is driving you, Mrs. Cassley?" asked T. X.,
somewhat at a loss to understand the object of this visit.

"I may be doing wrong," began the lady, pursing her lips, "and two
blacks will never make a white."

"And all that glitters is not gold," suggested T. X. a little wearily.
"Will you please tell me your business, Mrs. Cassley? I am a very hungry
man."

"Well, it's like this, sir," said Mrs. Cassley, dropping her erudition,
and coming down to bedrock homeliness; "I've got a young lady stopping
with me, as respectable a gel as I've had to deal with. And I know
what respectability is, I might tell you, for I've taken professional
boarders and I have been housekeeper to a doctor."

"You are well qualified to speak," said T. X. with a smile. "And what
about this particular young lady of yours! By the way what is your
address?"

"86a M