"I am unknown to Lady Ruth," he remarked. "Supposing she should refuse
to see me?"

Wingrave looked at him coldly.

"I have told you what I wish done," he said. "The task does not seem
to be a difficult one. Please see to it that I have an answer by five
o'clock-----"

Aynesworth lunched with a few of his particular friends at the club.
They heard of his new adventure with somewhat doubtful approbation.

"You'll never stand the routine, old chap!"

"And what about your own work!"

"What will the Daily Scribbler people say?"

Aynesworth shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't imagine it will last very long," he answered, "and I shall
get a fair amount of time to myself. The work I do on the Daily
Scribbler doesn't amount to anything. It was a chance I simply
couldn't refuse."

The editor of a well-known London paper leaned back in his chair, and
pinched a cigar carefully.

"You'll probably find the whole thing a sell," he remarked. "The