"Mercy" screamed Johnson "wherever did you find it?"
"Well" replied Thomas Bench "I was walking in Orange Alley where old Nan lives and outside the door I found this scrap of paper, what do you think it means old pal?"
"I should say" said Johnson biting his lips "it looks as though it meant that our young lady had taken up her abode there."
"So should I" said Bench with a broad grin and so saying the two men walked out arm in arm. Outside they parted and Johnson took the first train for Margate and whilst waiting at the station a telegram was brought to him by dirty old Nan.
Tearing it open he found it was from Mayfield saying Mr. Earlsdown was dying and he was wanted at once.
"Oh lor!" ejaculated the butler making a rush for the ticket office. Johnson did not arrive at Mayfield till 4.0 o'clock, then he instantly made his way to Mr. Earlsdown's bedroom.
All the servants in the household were standing round the bed and on it lay the unconscious figure of Mr. Earlsdown.
"What is it?" cried Johnson pushing his way through the crowd.
"Appoplexy" answered Susan the housemaid holding her apron to her streaming eyes "the poor dear master was so excited thinking about Miss Monton and then all of a sudden he received a note telling of the engagement of Mr. Albert Morris with Miss Saunders and then that sent him off because he always wanted Mr. Albert to marry Miss Monton, and when Mary went into the drawing room, there he was in a fit."
Just then the door opened and in walked Doctor Mason. The result of his visit will be seen later on.