rily, she exclaimed:

"Don't think. People of your class are not hired to think; they are
paid to do as they are told. You've been very careless in your work
recently. The next time it happens I shall have to tell you to find
another place."

The valet smiled. An insolent look passed over his sallow, angular
face. Dropping completely his deferential manner and fixing the two
women with a bold, familiar stare, he said impudently:

"You needn't wait till next time. I'll quit right now, _parbleu_.
It's a rotten job, anyhow."

Indignant, Helen pointed to the door.

"Go!" she cried. "The housekeeper will settle with you. Never let me
see your face again."

The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders and went toward the door. As he
reached it, he turned round, a sneer on his face:

"You'll see me again all right, but ze circumstances may be different?
My lady may not be so proud ze next time."

With this parting shot, he went away, and a moment later they heard him
going up to his room to pack his things.

Ray turned to her sister. Reprovingly, she said:

"Weren't you a little severe with him?"

Helen shook her head. Quickly, she said:

"I never could bear the sight of the man. He is treacherous and
deceitful. I'm not at all sure that he's honest. It was only after
he'd been here some time that I learned he was formerly with Signor
Keralio. That was enough to set me against him. Like master, like
valet, as the saying goes, and it's usually a true saying. On several
occasions lately I have noticed things that seemed suspicious. The
fellow is more intimate now with Kenneth than I, his wife, have ever
been. Only the other day I discovered them in earnest and intimate
conversation. Directly I appeared they separated and Francois, instead
of continuing to converse on terms of apparent social equality, was
once more the fawning valet. I didn't take the trouble to ask Kenneth
what it all meant. So many singular things have happened since his
return, that this only adds one more to the list."

"May I come in?" said a voice.

Helen looked up quickly. It was Wilbur Steell who was standing at the
door with his head half in the room, laughing at them. The two women
had been so busy talking that they had not heard the sound of
approaching footsteps. With an exclamation of joy Ray jumped to her
feet and ran up to him.

"It's Wilbur--my precious Wilbur!"

Helen nodded approvingly, as she noticed the gi