“You’ll have a drink before you go, Wilshaw?” Wingate insisted.  “Say when.”

The young man accepted the whisky and soda and promptly disposed of it.

“Thanks, old chap!  Frightfully sorry to rush away like this, but that fellow downstairs means business.”

“Good night, Mr. Wingate,” Sarah said, holding out her hand, “and thanks ever so much for the evening.  You don’t think I’m a forward little minx, do you?”

“I think you’re a sensible little dear,” he assured her, “far too good for Jimmy.”

“Sorry I accepted your hospitality, if that’s how you’re feeling,” Jimmy grunted.  “By the by, you haven’t a few cigarettes, have you, for me to smoke while Sarah tries to get me safely home?”

Wingate held out the box.

“Fill your case,” he invited; “your pockets, too, if you like.  Don’t forget, both of you, luncheon at one-thirty to-morrow in the restaurant.  Good night!”

He stood with the door open, watching them go down the corridor.  Then he came slowly back into his room.  Once more the telephone bell began to ring.  He picked up the receiver.  The indifference of his opening monosyllable vanished in a second.  Something amazing crept into his face.

“Who?—­Lady Dredlinton?” he exclaimed.

“But where are you?—­Downstairs?—­Yes—­Yes—­Why, of course.—­Here?—­You mean that you are coming here, up to my room?—­I don’t quite understand.—­Yes, of course.—­One moment, please.  Come up by the east lift unless you want to meet Sarah Baldwin and Wilshaw.  They have this moment left me.  The hall porter will show you.”

Wingate laid down the receiver, glanced for a moment at the clock, hurried to the door, pushed back and secured the latch.  Then he came back into the room and stood listening.

In the end she came quite suddenly.  The door had opened and closed before he heard even the swish of her skirts.  She stood there looking at him a little appealingly.  She was dressed in dark travelling clothes and she carried a heavy dressing case in her hand.  He sprang forward and took it from her.

“My dear friend,” she exclaimed, with an attempt at levity, “don’t look so tragic!  There is a very simple explanation of this extraordinary visit, as you will soon find.”

“It needs no explanation,” he declared.

“Oh, yes, it does, of course,” she continued.  “I simply want you to intercede with the authorities here, so that I do not have to go and stand at that terrible counter.  There is a continental train just in, and the place is crowded.”

“You wish to stay here for the night?”

“Mayn’t I?  I have always heard that it was such a charming hotel, and I must stay somewhere.”

“There is some trouble?” he asked slowly.

“There is always trouble,” she replied, with a shrug of the shoulders.  “To-night seems to me as though it may be the climax.  You won’t be horrified if I sit down and smoke one of your cigarettes?  And may I remind you that your attitude is not entirely hospitable?”