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treasure you are, Milly! Why don’t you like Eric Haile?‘
    ‘I don’t either like or dislike him.’
    Herbert Whitall laughed.
    ‘He is considered charming—the life and soul of every party. That is why I chose him to be my best man. Also he’s about the only relation I’ve got, thank God. Let us hope he will add to the gaiety of tonight’s proceedings. At the moment the prospects are a trifle on the gloomy side.’
    She took all this without any sign—any secretary waiting for her employer to come to the point. When he had finished she repeated her former question with the slightest possible variation.
    ‘Who do you want me to ask?’
    ‘The Considines—they are friends of Sybil’s. Old Richardson —I’d like to show him that ivory-handled dagger and see if it doesn’t make his mouth water. How is that for numbers?’
    ‘Five men and three women.’
    ‘You’d better come in. It’s the best we can do. Richardson has no social feelings, and Sybil will be an excuse for the Considines, but the notice is too short for anyone else. Just say we came down here on the spur of the moment. Say Lila was being overdone in town.’
    She lifted the receiver of the table instrument. He turned back to the fire and to his thoughts. The thin lips smiled. He spread his hands to what was now a cheerful blaze.
    Millicent Whitaker was being quiet and competent at the telephone. Presently she hung up and said,
    ‘That’s all right—they’ll come. I said a quarter to eight.’
    ‘Good. Richardson will be late—he always is.’
    She had been sitting at the table. Now she got up.
    ‘I had better let Marsham know.’
    ‘If you will.’
    She had taken her way towards the door. She stopped now and said,
    ‘Have you done anything about filling my place?’
    He was leaning against the mantelshelf, looking at her without appearing to give very much attention to what she said. There was no grey in his dark hair, but it was beginning to recede from the temples, and he looked his age. When she repeated her question a little sharply he smiled and said,
    ‘Certainly not.’
    She came nearer.
    ‘Herbert, I will not stay here once you are married. I told you that a month ago.’
    ‘Forget it, my dear.’
    ‘I meant what I said. Whether you’ve got anyone else or not, I shall go.’
    ‘Oh, I think not. It would be so very foolish, and you are a sensible person.’
    She shook her head.
    ‘I won’t stay.’
    All at once his expression changed. The hard eyes, the fine nose, the forward thrust of the head, gave him a predatory air.
    ‘My dear Millicent, you are being not only foolish but tiresome. You are an excellent secretary, and I propose to retain your services. If you want a rise you can have it.’
    She shook her head.
    ‘I won’t stay.’
    He laughed.
    ‘Consider your salary doubled!’
    The colour blazed in her cheeks.
    ‘Take care, Herbert—you may go too far!’
    ‘And so may you, my dear. There is such a thing as knowing which side your bread is buttered. I shall be signing a new will next week. Under the old one you benefit—quite substantially. Long and faithful service—ten years, isn’t it? Well, it depends entirely on yourself whether that legacy goes into the new will or not. I have always told you that I would make provision for you and the child, and I am prepared to carry out my promise. But if you leave my service the legacy comes out.’
    She stood for a moment, mastering herself. At last she said in a quiet voice,
    ‘Why do you want me to stay?’
    ‘I don’t like changes. I should never get a more efficient secretary.’
    ‘I can’t do it. You mustn’t ask me.’
    He said, ‘Come here, Milly! I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense. You’ll stay! If I have any more trouble I’m afraid I shall have to do something you wouldn’t like—I’m really afraid you wouldn’t like it at all. You see, I kept that cheque.’
    All the colour drained out of her face. ‘It’s not true. I