“Yes, sir,” said Jason helplessly.

“Well, go on,” prompted Jimmie Dale.  “You told her I wasn’t home, and she said she knew it, didn’t she?  And she left the letter that I was on no account to miss receiving when I got back, though there was no need of telephoning me to the club—­when I returned would do, but it was imperative that I should have it then—­eh?”

“Good Lord, sir!” ejaculated Jason, his jaw dropped, “that’s exactly what she did say.”

“Jason,” said Jimmie Dale grimly, “listen to me.  If ever she comes here again, inveigle her in.  If you can’t inveigle her, use force; capture her, pull her in, do anything—­do anything, do you hear?  Only don’t let her get away from you until I’ve come.”

Jason gazed at his master as though the other had lost his reason.

“Use force, sir?” he repeated weakly—­and shook his head.  “You—­you can’t mean that, sir.”

“Can’t I?” inquired Jimmie Dale, with a mirthless smile.  “I mean every word of it, Jason—­and if I thought there was the slightest chance of her giving you the opportunity, I’d be more imperative still.  As it is—­where’s the letter?”

“On the table in your studio, sir,” said Jason, mechanically.

Jimmie Dale started toward the stairs—­then turned and came back to where Jason, still shaking his head heavily, had been gazing anxiously after his master.  Jimmie Dale laid his hand on the old man’s shoulder.

“Jason,” he said kindly, with a swift change of mood, “you’ve been a long time in the family—­first with father, and now with me.  You’d do a good deal for me, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d do anything in the world for you, Master Jim,” said the old man earnestly.

“Well, then, remember this,” said Jimmie Dale slowly, looking into the other’s eyes, “remember this—­keep your mouth shut and your eyes open.  It’s my fault.  I should have warned you long ago, but I never dreamed that she would ever come here herself.  There have been times when it was practically a matter of life and death to me to know who that woman is that you saw to-night.  That’s all, Jason.  Now go to bed.”

“Master Jim,” said the old man simply, “thank you, sir, thank you for trusting me.  I’ve dandled you on my knee when you were a baby, Master Jim.  I don’t know what it’s about, and it isn’t for me to ask.  I thought, sir, that maybe you were having a little fun with me.  But I know now, and you can trust me, Master Jim, if she ever comes again.”

“Thank you, Jason,” said Jimmie Dale, his hand closing with an appreciative pressure on the other’s shoulder “Good-night, Jason.”