Mr. Chambers cleared his throat and seemed curiously embarrassed.
"Perhaps I should have stated before that a—er—a chap from a local agency was posted at the bottom of the kitchen stairway,—as a favour to me, so to speak. A chap who had been detailed to assist me,—But I shall explain all that in my report. So, you see, you couldn't have gone out that way without—Yes, yes,—as I was saying, I accompanied Mr. Bramble to the dining-room. The cook was in a very bad temper. The dinner was getting cold. I observed that three places had been laid. Fixing my eye upon Mr. Bramble I inquired who the third place was for. I shall never forget his expression, nor the admirable way in which he recovered himself. He was quite wonderful. He said it was for me. Rather neat of him, wasn't it?"
"You don't mean to say you had the brass to—Well, 'pon my soul, Chambers, that was going it a bit strong."
"Under the circumstances, your lordship, I couldn't very well decline," said Mr. Chambers apologetically. "He is such a decent, loyal old chap, sir, that it would have been cruel to let him see that I knew he was lying."
"But, confound you, that was my dinner," exclaimed Trotter wrathfully.
"So I suspected, your lordship. I knew it couldn't be her ladyship's. Well, we had got on to the coffee, and I was just on the point of asking Mr. Bramble for the loan of an umbrella, when there was a loud thump on the ceiling overhead. An instant later a large piece of plaster fell to the floor, not three feet behind my chair. I—"
"By Jove! What a pity it didn't fall three feet nearer," exclaimed Trotter, a note of regret in his voice.
Mr. Chambers generously overlooked the remark.
"After that it was plain sailing," said he, quite pleasantly. "Now you know how I came to discover you, and how I happen to be here."
"And those poor old dears," cried Lady Jane in distress; "where are they? What have you done to them?"