ot much. Next day I called at the house and rang the bell. A
servant girl opened the door. I asked to see the mistress. She asked
what I wanted, and I told her that I had been sent for to take a
situation. She looked surprised, because of course she had not been
notified that she was to be discharged. I quickly went on to say that I
would not like to make her lose her place, and asked what sort of people
they were who lived in the house. I got her talking and soon found out
that it is a kind of private boarding-school, and that there is a child
there, a girl of fourteen named Rose Mitchel, and that your man is her
father. How does that strike you?"

"My girl, you are a genius. But still you knew this the day before
yesterday. Why did you not report?"

"I went down again yesterday to try to learn more. I sat out in the park
and watched the young girls when they came out for an airing. I could
not find a chance to speak to the girl, but I found out which is she by
hearing the others call her name. I had my camera along, and I took her
portrait for you. What do you say now. Have I wasted my time?"

"Not at all. You are clever, but you will never be great, because you
are too conceited. However I have nothing but praise for you this time.
Get me the picture."

The girl went upstairs and returned with a small, rather dim photograph
of a young, pretty girl, and gave it to Mr. Barnes. About half an hour
later he left the house.

CHAPTER VIII.

LUCETTE.

Two days after the events just related, Emily Remsen's maid announced
that she had just received news that her mother was very ill, and that
she had been notified to go to her at once. Her mother, she said, lived
in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She wished to go at the earliest possible
moment, and begged that her cousin, Lucette, should be allowed to attend
to her duties till her return, which she hoped would be in a very few
days. Asked if her cousin was competent, she said yes, and especially
apt at arranging the hair, having served an apprenticeship with a French
hair-dresser. Indeed the girl's real name was Lucy, but she had changed
it to Lucette, to pretend that being French she was necessarily a good
maid.

In Miss Remsen's mind this changing of her name was nothing in the
girl's favor; but as her own maid was thus suddenly taken from her, and
as this other was offered at once, she agreed to the proposal.

Lucette arrived during the afternoon, and Miss Remsen