be, not with me about. I never did
allow myself to be bossed by police, and I always been too much for 'em.
And as I'm on the matter, ma'am, I should like to give you notice as soon
as it's convenient. I wouldn't leave on any account till that foreman's off
the place; he's no better than a fool. But as soon afterwards as you like."

"Certainly, Aguilar. I was quite expecting it. Where are you going to
live?"

"Well, ma'am, I've got hold of a little poultry run business in the north
of London. It'll be handy for Holloway in case--And Jane asked me to give
you this letter, ma'am. I see her this morning."

Audrey read the note. Very short, it was signed "Jane" and "Nick," and
dated from a house in Fitzroy Street. It caused acute excitement in Audrey.

"I shall come at once," said she.

Getting rid of Aguilar, she knocked at the door of No. 37.

"Read that," she ordered Miss Ingate and Madame Piriac, giving them the
note jointly.

"And are you going?" said Miss Ingate, nervous and impressed.

"Of course," Audrey answered. "Don't they ask me to go at once? I meant to
write to my cousins at Woodbridge and my uncles in the colonies, and tell
them all that I was settling down at last. And I meant to look at those new
flats in Park Lane with Musa. But I shall have to leave all that for the
present. Also my lunch."

"But, darling," put in Madame Piriac, who had been standing before the
dressing-table trying on a hat. "But, darling, it is very serious, this
matter. What about your husband?"

"He'll keep," said Audrey. "He's had his turn. I must have mine now. I
haven't had a day off from being a wife for ever so long. And it's a little
enervating, you know. It spoils you for the fresh air."

"I imagined to myself that you two were happy in an ideal fashion,"
murmured Madame Piriac.

"So we are!" said Audrey. "Though a certain coolness did arise over the
luggage this morning. But I don't want to be ideally happy all the time.
And I won't be. I want--I want all the sensations there are; and I want to
be everything. And I can be. Musa understands."

"If he does," said Miss Ingate, "he'll be the first husband that ever did."
Her lips were sardonic.

"Well, of course," said Audrey nonchalantly, "he _is_. Didn't you know
that?... And didn't you tell me not to forget Lady Southminster?"

"Did I?" said Miss Ingate.

Audrey heard voices in the corridor. Musa was parting from a subservient
Shinner. Also the luggage was b