Careful, indeed! What has a poor clerk in a house-agent's office to fear from such a personage ?" The servant had reappeared with their second and last course.

For a few moments they spoke of casual subjects.

Afterwards, however, Tavernake asked a question.
"By the way," he said, "we are hoping to let Grantham House to Mrs.
Wenham Gardner.

I suppose she must be very wealthy ?" Beatrice looked at him curiously.
"Why do you come to me for information ?" she demanded.

"I suppose that she brought you references ?" "We haven't quite got to that stage yet," he answered.