But she rose courageously, and tottered to the desk, and took the bunch
from him.

"I'm afraid you've broken something in the lock," she announced, with
gentle resignation, after she had tried to open the desk and failed.

"Have I?" he mumbled. He knew that he was not shining.

"Would you mind calling in at Allman's," she said, resuming her chair,
"and tell them to send a man down at once to pick the lock? There's
nothing else for it. Or perhaps you'd better say first thing to-morrow
morning. And then as soon as he's done it I'll call and pay you the
money myself. And you might tell your precious Mr Herbert Calvert that
next quarter I shall give notice to leave."

"Don't you trouble to call, please," said he. "I can easily pop in
here."

She sped him away in an enigmatic tone. He could not be sure whether he
had succeeded or failed, in her estimation, as a man of the world and a
partaker of delicate teas.

"Don't _forget_ Allman's!" she enjoined him as he left the room. He
was to let himself out.


III

He was coming home late that night from the Sports Club, from a
delectable evening which had lasted till one o'clock in the morning,