"But, confound you, that was my dinner," exclaimed Trotter wrathfullly.
"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?"
"They are—" he looked downward again before answering—"yes, they are holding the ladder for me. Coming, gentlemen!" he called out. "We'll all be down in a jiffy."
"Before we go any farther," said Trotter seriously, "I should like to know just what the charge is against me."
"Beg pardon?"
"The charge. What are you going to chuck me into prison for?"
"Prison? My God, sir! Who said anything about prison?" gasped Mr. Chambers, staring wide-eyed at the young man.
