"Well, you seem to have fared badly in the encounter," remarked the gentleman. "Of course I will send a messenger round with the letters. If you can manage to do your work, I shall be glad for you to stay, of course."
"Yes, I knew I could not be spared to take holiday just now, and I have brought some sandwiches with me so that no one but you need see me to-day, and I dare say it will be better to-morrow."
And Mr. Bristow having taken charge of the letter-bags, Arthur sat down to his usual work. He did not see Mr. Brading that morning, for he was busy in another part of the house. It was about eleven o'clock that a messenger came to enquire if Mr. Brading was in his own room.
"Is he wanted very specially?" asked Mr. Bristow. "For I know he does not want to be disturbed this morning."
"It's Lady Mary Murray, sir," answered the messenger.
Mr. Bristow pondered for a moment, and then decided that it would be better to send the man to Mr. Brading and let him decide whether he would see the lady or not. And so he told the man where he would probably find him.
Mr. Brading was not best pleased at being summoned to another interview with the lady, remembering what the last had been, but when he reached his downstairs private room, he found her seated and quite disposed to be pleasant, and even cordial.
"Good-morning, Mr. Brading! I am afraid I was a little excited, a little put-out, yesterday morning when I was here, and so I have called again to correct any unfavourable impression upon your mind, and also to tell you that for the present. I shall not take any further stops to trace that missing letter, and, in fact, I feel disposed to let the matter drop, and put up with the loss of the money, if you will help me in another matter."
Mr. Brading bowed. "Of course, as we have never received your ladyship's letter we cannot be held responsible for it," he said cautiously.
"Well, there is very little doubt who had the letter and cashed the cheque," said Lady Mary. "But now I am more anxious on my son's account, and this is what I have come to consult you about. Let me tell you what happened last night not far from your own door. I was returning home from an early dinner-party when I noticed a cab drawn up a little way up that side road just above your house, and almost at the same moment I saw your clerk, who calls himself Arthur Murray, but is a disgrace to the name, come staggering along as though he could not walk straight, and the cab was evidently waiting for him, for the cabman called to him, and he got into the cab and was driven away. Now, you must know whether or not that boy could afford to go driving about like that of an evening!"