and she stood stock-still, pinching her lip
thoughtfully. Had he known? Why had he come that morning, hours before
he was ordinarily visible--if the common gossip of Krooman Mansions be
worthy of credence?--and then as though to cap the amazing events of the
morning she saw him. He was standing on the corner of the street,
leaning on his cane, smoking a long cigarette through a much longer
holder, and he seemed wholly absorbed in watching a linesman, perched
high above the street, repairing a telegraph wire.

She made a step toward him, but stopped. He was so evidently engrossed
in the acrobatics of the honest workman in mid-air that he could not
have seen her and she turned swiftly and walked the other way.

She had not reached the end of the block before he was at her side.

"You are going home early, Miss Cresswell," he smiled.

She turned to him.

"Do you know why?" she asked.

"I don't know why--unless----"

"Unless what?"

"Unless you have been discharged," he said coolly.

Her brows knit.

"What do you know about my discharge?" she asked.

"Such things are possible," said Mr. Beale.

"Did you know I was going to be discharged?" she asked again.

He nodded.

"I didn't exactly know you would be discharged this morning, but I had
an idea you would be discharged at some time or other. That is why I
came with my offer."

"Which, of course, I won't accept," she snapped.

"Which, of course, you have accepted," he said quietly. "Believe me, I
know nothing more than that Punsonby's have been prevailed upon to
discharge you. What reason induced them to take that step, honestly I
don't know."

"But why did you think so?"

He was grave of a sudden.

"I just thought so," he said. "I am not going to be mysterious with you
and I can only tell you that I had reasons to believe that some such
step would be taken."

She shrugged her shoulders wearily.

"It is quite mysterious enough," she said. "Do you seriously want me to
work for you?"

He nodded.

"You didn't tell me your city address."

"That is why I came back," he said.

"Then you knew I was coming out?"

"I knew you would come out some time in the day."

She stared at him.

"Do you mean to tell me that you would have waited all day to give me
your address?"

He laughed.

"I only mean this," he replied, "that I should have waited all day."

It was a helpless laugh which echoed his.

"My address is 342 Lothbury," he went on, "342.