Mrs. Povy was delighted to see Calliston back again but she was not going to betray any exultation, as she did not think him worthy of it, so received him with great dignity and formality. Lord Calliston, a tall, slender, dissipated young man, noticed the restraint of her manners and commented thereon at once.

"What's the matter with you, Totty," he asked, jocularly. "You are as cross as two sticks--anyone been proposing to you?"

"I wouldn't have them if they had," snapped Totty. "No, my lord, there ain't nothing the matter with me as far as I'm aware."

"Now, Mrs. Povy, that's nonsense," returned Calliston, disbelievingly. "You're cross about something."

"Which ain't to be wondered at," burst out Totty, wrathfully. "Not 'avin' bin brought up to being badgered and worrited by policemen."

Calliston turned round in his chair, and looked at her keenly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, sharply.

"What I say, my lord," replied Totty. "After you 'ad gone some policeman, called Dowker, or Bowker, came here and wanted to know all about you."

"Oh, Dowker!" said Calliston, thoughtfully, "that's the detective that arrested poor old Myles."

"You know all about it then, my lord?" said Totty, quickly.

"I couldn't be in London twenty-four hours without knowing something of the Jermyn Street affair," replied Calliston, coolly. "I know that a woman was found dead, and they arrested my cousin as the murderer, thinking the woman was Lena Sarschine."

"And 'aint she?" gasped Mrs. Povy.

"No, it was Lady Balscombe that was murdered."

"But I thought she went off with you?"

"Well, she didn't--shows I'm not as black as I'm painted," replied the young man, "but the worst of it is they seem to think I'm mixed up in the affair, and the detective was down at Brighton yesterday to see me. I quite expect a call from him this morning to find out what I know about the row."

"You don't think Mr. Desmond guilty, do you, my Lord?" asked Mrs. Povy, anxiously.

"Pish! what a question to ask," said Calliston, contemptuously, "you've been with our family for a long time, Mrs. Povy, and you ought to know our character by this time--Hullo!" as a knock came to the door, "who's that?"

The door opened and his valet entered, soft-footed and deferential.

"A gentleman to see you, my lord," he said, handing Calliston a card.

"Humph! I thought so," said Calliston, glancing at the card; "show Mr. Dowker up, Locker."

Locker retired, and Mrs. Povy was about to follow his example when Calliston stopped her.

"Don't go, Mrs. Povy," he said, authoritatively, "you saw this man before, so you can hear our interview--I may have to ask you something."

Totty acquiesced obediently, and went over to the window while Locker, showing Mr. Dowker into the room, retired, closing the door after him. Calliston opened the conversation at once.

"Your name is Dowker--you are a detective--you want to see me about the Jermyn Street murder?"

"Quite correct, my lord," replied Dowker, quietly, though rather astonished at the business like tone assumed by Calliston. "I want to ask your lordship a few questions."

"Indeed!" said Calliston, abruptly. "Oh, so you didn't find out everything from the lady you saw on board the yacht?"

"How do you know I was down at Brighton?" asked Dowker.

"Simply enough," answered Calliston. "I received a telegram from my sailing-master informing me of your visit. You saw Miss--Miss----" here he glanced at Totty as if doubtful to announce his marriage, "Miss Sarschine?"

"Yes, I saw Miss Sarschine," replied Dowker, with an emphasis on the last word.

"And she doubtless told you of her visit to Lady Balscombe's house?"

"She did."

"And of Lady Balscombe's visit to these rooms?"

"Correct."

"Then what do you want to know from me?" demanded Calliston.

Mr. Dowker ran his hand round the brim of his hat.

"I want an account of your lordship's movements on that night," he said smoothly.

Lord Calliston sprang to his feet with a burst of laughter.

"Good Heavens!" he cried. "Surely you don't think I killed Lady Balscombe?"

Dowker said nothing, but looked discreetly on the ground, upon which Calliston frowned.

"Don't carry the joke too far," he said, harshly. "I am a very good-natured man, but there are limits to one's good-temper--in some cases I would decline to answer your very impertinent questions, but as I want to save my cousin's life, if possible, I will tell you what I know--be seated."

The detective bowed and took a seat, while Calliston turned to Mrs. Povy.

"You can go now," he said quietly, "and don't let me be disturbed until I ring the bell."

"Wait a minute," observed Dowker, as Mrs. Povy passed him. "You told me it was Miss Sarschine visited Mr. Desmond on that night?"

"And so it was," retorted Totty, defiantly, pausing at the door. "If I was massacred this minute I'd swear it."

"How are you so certain?"

"Because I saw her face--as if I didn't know it, and another thing, she wore the same dress and jacket as she did when she were here in the afternoon--get along with you," said Totty, viciously, "telling me I'm telling lies, an' am old enough to be your mother, only my sons 'ud be men and not skeletons," and with this sarcastic allusion to Dowker's leanness, the indignant Mrs. Povy departed.

"Ah!" said Dowker, thoughtfully, not paying any attention to her last remark, "it was the resemblance and the change of clothes made her make the mistake--humph----"

"Now, then, Mr. Dowker," said Calliston, tapping the table impatiently, "where do you wan............