politeness. "I understand we may look round?"
The housekeeper explained. The state rooms, including those once used by Queen Elizabeth, and the bed in which her Majesty had slept, were open to inspection. Visitors paid a shilling each; the shillings were given to the local charities. So Parslewe paid three shillings, and we all inscribed our names in a book—Parslewe last. And as he laid down the pen under the housekeeper's eye, he turned and looked at her.
"Now, ma'am!" he said. "Have you ever seen me before?"
The woman gave him a quiet, watchful look.
"Yes, sir," she answered readily. "I remember you. You're the gentleman who dined here with my late master some three years ago, and spent the evening with him. But I never heard your name, sir."
Parslewe nodded, and remarking that there was no need to show us round, he'd prefer to be left to himself, led us into the hall and up a great staircase to the state apartments. It was evident at once that he
