said. He was about to descend to the storey below, bashfully conscious
of bare feet and pyjamaed shins, but looking over the banisters he saw
Mrs. Schiller and the treasure-dog engaged in some household
manoeuvres. The pug caught sight of his pyjama legs and began to yap.
Aubrey retreated in the irritation of a man baulked of a cold tub. He
shaved and dressed rapidly.

On his way downstairs he met Mrs. Schiller. He thought that her gaze
was disapproving.

"A gentleman called to see you last night, sir," she said. "He said he
was very sorry to miss you."

"I was rather late in getting in," said Aubrey. "Did he leave his
name?"

"No, he said he'd see you some other time. He woke the whole house up
by falling downstairs," she added sourly.

He left the lodging house swiftly, fearing to be seen from the
bookshop. He was very eager to learn if everything was all right, but
he did not want the Mifflins to know he was lodging just opposite.
Hastening diagonally across the street, he found that the Milwaukee
Lunch, where he had eaten the night before, was open. He went in and
had breakfast, rejoicing in grapefruit, ham and eggs, coffee, and
doughnuts. He lit a pipe and sat by the window wondering what to do
next. "It's damned perplexing," he said to himself. "I stand to lose
either way. If I don't do anything, something may happen to the girl;
if I butt in too soon I'll get in dutch with her. I wish I knew what
Weintraub and that chef are up to."

The lunchroom was practically empty, and in two chairs near him the
proprietor and his assistant were sitting talking. Aubrey was suddenly
struck by what they said.

"Say, this here, now, bookseller guy must have struck it rich."

"Who, Mifflin?"

"Yeh; did ya see that car in front of his place this morning?"

"No."

"Believe me, some boat."

"Musta hired it, hey? Where'd he go at?"

"I didn't see. I just saw the bus standing front the door."

"Say, did you see that swell dame he's got clerking for him?"

"I sure did. What's he doing, taking her joy-riding?"

"Shouldn't wonder. I wouldn't blame him----"

Aubrey gave no sign of having heard, but got up and left the lunchroom.
Had the girl been kidnapped while he overslept? He burned with shame
to think what a pitiful failure his knight-errantry had been. His
first idea was to beard Weintraub and compel him to explain his
connection with the bookshop. His next thought was to call up Mr.
Chap