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　　The offices of Egerton, Forbes & Wilborough werein Bloomsbury, in one of those imposing and dignified squares which have as yet not feltthe wind of change. Their brass plate was suitably worn down to illegibility. The firm hadbeen going for over a hundred years and a good proportion of the landed gentry of Englandwere their clients. There was no Forbes in the firm any more and no Wilboroughs. Insteadthere were Atkinsons, father and son, and a Welsh Lloyd and a Scottish McAllister. Therewas, however, still an Egerton, descendant of the original Egerton. This particularEgerton was a man of fifty-two and he was adviser to several families which had in theirday been advised by his grandfather, his uncle, and his father.

　　At this moment he was sitting behind a largemahogany desk in his handsome room on the first floor, speaking kindly but firmly to adejected looking client. Richard Egerton was a handsome man, tall, dark with a touch ofgrey at the temples and very shrewd grey eyes. His advice was always good advice, but heseldom minced his words.

　　"Quite frankly you haven‘t got a leg to stand upon, Freddie," he wassaying. "Not with those letters you’ve written."

　　"You don‘t think –”Freddie murmured dejectedly.

　　"No, I don’t,"said Egerton. "The only hope is to settleout of court. It might even be held that you‘ve renderedyourself liable to criminal prosecution."

　　"Oh, look here, Richard, that’s carrying things a bit far."

　　There was a small discreet buzz on Egerton‘s desk. He picked up the telephone receiver with a frown.

　　"I though I said I wasn’t to be disturbed."

　　There was a murmur at the other end. Egerton said, "Oh. Yes – Yes, I see. Ask her to wait, will you."

　　He replaced the receiver and turned once more to hisunhappy looking client.

　　"Look here, Freddie," hesaid, "I know the law and you don‘t.You’re in a nasty jam. I‘ll do mybest to get you out of it, but it’s going to cost you a bit. Idoubt it they‘d settle for less than twelve thousand."

　　"Twelve thousand!" Theunfortunate Freddie was aghast. "Oh, I say! I haven’t got it, Richard."

　　"Well, you‘ll have toraise it then. There are always ways and means. If she’llfight the case it‘ll cost you a lot more."

　　"You lawyers!" saidFreddie. "Sharks, all of you!"

　　He rose to his feet. "Well,"he said, "do your bloody best for me,Richard old boy."

　　He took his departure, shaking his head sadly.Richard Egerton put Freddie and his affairs out of his mind, and thought about his nextclient. He said softly to himself, "The Honourable ElviraBlake. I wonder what she’s like…” He lifted his receiver. "Lord Frederick‘s gone. Send up Miss Blake, will you."

　　The door opened, the clerk announced Miss ElviraBlake and the girl walked into the room. Egerton rose from his chair and came towards her.In appearance, he thought, she did not resemble either of her parents. Tall, slim, veryfair, Bess’s colouring but none of Bess‘s vitality, with an old-fashioned air about her; though that was difficult tobe sure of, since the fashion in dress happened at the moment to be ruffles and babybodices.

　　"Well, well," he said,as he shook hands with her. "This is a surprise. Last time Isaw you, you were eleven years old. Come and sit here." Hepulled forward a chair and she sat down.

　　"I suppose," saidElvira, a little uncertainly, "that I ought to have writtenfirst. Written and made an appointment. Something like that, but I really made up my mindvery suddenly and it seemed an opportunity, since I was in London."

　　"And what are you doing in London?"

　　"Having my teeth seen to."

　　"Beastly things, teeth," said Egerton. "Give us trouble from the cradle tothe grave. But I am grateful for the teeth, if it gives me an opportunity to see you. Letme see now; you’ve been Italy, haven‘t you, finishing your education there at once of these places all girls go tonowadays?"

　　"Yes," said Elvira, "the Contessa Martinelli. But I’ve left there nowfor good. I‘m living with the Melfords in Kent until I make upmy mind if there’s anything I‘dlike to do."

　　"Well, I hope you’llfind something satisfactory. You‘re not thinking of auniversity or anything like that?"

　　"No," said Elvira, "I don’t think I‘d beclever enough for that." She paused before saying, "I suppose you’d have to agree to anything if Idid want to do?"

　　Egerton‘s keen eyesfocused sharply.

　　"I am one of your guardians, and a trustee underyour father’s will, yes," he said."Therefore, you have a perfect right to approach me at anytime."

　　Elvira said, "Thank you,"politely. Egerton asked:

　　"Is there anything worrying you?"

　　"No. Not really. But you see, I don‘t know anything. Nobody’s ever told me things.One doesn‘t always like to ask."

　　He looked at her attentively.

　　"You mean things about yourself?"

　　"Yes," said Elvira. "It’s kind of you to understand. Uncle Derek –”she hesitated.

　　"Derek Luscombe, you mean?"

　　"Yes. I‘ve alwayscalled him uncle."

"I see."