"Not so bad as that!" said Miss Kendrick. "Well, it's a case of knight-errantry that Mr. Hampden has engaged in, and your help is needed."
"Oh," said Mr. Baldwin, "my services are tendered only to beauty in distress."
"That's exactly the case," said Miss Kendrick. "It isn't Mr. Hampden who is to be rescued. It's a lady fair. She's locked up in the ogre's castle and I want her taken out."
"Very good," said Mr. Baldwin. "Would any particular time suit you? It lacks three hours yet of midnight."
"Oh, it must be done right away," said Miss Kendrick.
"Well," I said, "Mr. Baldwin should be enlightened as to the chief difficulty. There's no trouble in getting the lady in the case. The principal thing is to know what to do with her after she's rescued." I began to hope that Mr. Baldwin might know of some proper custodian for the Chinese girl.
"Why, Mr. Hampden is to marry her out of hand, I suppose," said he. "That's the way it used to run in the old story-books."
"Thank you, no," I laughed. "I resign my claim to Mr. Baldwin in advance."
"I don't think it would do," said Miss Kendrick, shaking her head sagely. "Besides, there are other conditions to be fulfilled. But I truly want your counsel, Mr. Baldwin."
"At your service. Let me hear the case."