n Booddle and me is very good friends," said Sophie. "He come to
my house and behave himself very well; only he is not so handy a man as
your brother, Sir 'Oo."

Archie trembled, and he trembled still more when his brother, turning to
him, asked him if he knew the woman.

"Yes, he know the woman very well," said Sophie. "Why do you not come
any more to see me? You send your little friend, but I like you better
yourself. You come again when you return, and all that shall be made
right."

But still she did not go. She had now seated herself on a gun case which
was resting on a portmanteau, and seemed to be at her ease. The time was
going fast, and Sir Hugh, if he meant to eat his chops, must eat them at
once.

"See her out of the hall into the street," he said to Archie; "and if
she gives trouble, send for the police. She has come here to get money
from me by threats, and only that we have no time, I would have her
taken to the lock-up house at once." Then Sir Hugh retreated into the
dining-room and shut the door.

"Lock-up 'ouse!" said Sophie, scornfully. "What is dat?"

"He means a prison," said Doodles.

"Prison! I know who is most likely to be in a prison. Tell me of a
prison! Is he a minister of state that he can send out order for me to
be made prisoner? Is there lettres de cachet now in England? I think
not. Prison, indeed!"

"But really, Madam Gordeloup, you had better go-you had, indeed," said
Archie.

"You too--you bid me go? Did I bid you go when you came to me? Did I not
tell you sit down? Was I not polite? Did I send for a police, or talk of
lock-up 'ouse to you? No. It is English that do these things--only
English."

Archie felt that it was incumbent on him to explain that his visit to
her house had been made under other circumstances--that he had brought
money instead of seeking it; and had, in fact, gone to her simply in the
way of her own trade. He did begin some preliminaries to this
explanation; but as the servant was there, and as his brother might come
out from the dining-room, and as also he was aware that he could hardly
tell the story much to his own advantage, he stopped abruptly, and,
looking piteously at Doodles, implored him to take the lady away.

"Perhaps you wouldn't mind just seeing her into Mount Street," said
Archie.

"Who--I?" said Doodles, electrified.

"It is only just around the corner," said Archie.

"Yes, Captain Booddle, we will go," said Sophie. "This is a bad h