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ch well； as a garrulous； irrepressible chatterer who would probably talk about old times to such an extent as to cause Ann to realise the truth in the first five minutes。
The door opened。
〃Lord Wisbeach；〃 announced Mr。 Crocker。
〃I'm afraid I'm late； Mrs。 Pett；〃 said his lordship。
〃No。 You're quite punctual。 Lord Wisbeach； here is an old friend of yours； James Crocker。〃
There was an almost imperceptible pause。 Then Jimmy stepped forward and held out his hand。
〃Hello； Wizzy； old man！〃
〃H…hello； Jimmy！〃
Their eyes met。 In his lordship's there was an expression of unmistakable relief； mingled with astonishment。 His face； which had turned a sickly white； flushed as the blood poured back into it。 He had the appearance of a man who had had a bad shock and is just getting over it。 Jimmy； eyeing him curiously； was not surprised at his emotion。 What the man's game might be； he could not say； but of one thing he was sure； which was that this was not Lord Wisbeach； buton the contrarysome one he had never seen before in his life。
〃Luncheon is served； madam！〃 said Mr。 Crocker sonorously from the doorway。
CHAPTER XV
A LITTLE BUSINESS CHAT
IT was not often that Ann found occasion to rejoice at the presence in her uncle's house of the six geniuses whom Mrs。 Pett had installed therein。 As a rule； she disliked them individually and collectively。 But to…day their pany was extraordinarily wele to her。 They might have their faults； but at least their presence tended to keep the conversation general and prevent it being a duologue between Lord Wisbeach and Jimmy on the subject of old times。 She was still feeling weak from the reaction consequent upon the slackening of the tension of her emotions on seeing Lord Wisbeach greet Jimmy as an old acquaintance。 She had never hoped that that barrier would be surmounted。 She had pictured Lord Wisbeach drawing back with a puzzled frown on his face and an astonished 〃But this is not Jimmy Crocker。〃 The strain had left her relieved； but in no mood for conversation； and she replied absently to the remarks of Howard Bemis； the poet； who sat on her left。 She looked round the table。 Willie Partridge was talking to Mrs。 Pett about the difference between picric acid and trinitrotoluene； than which a pleasanter topic for the luncheon table could hardly be selected and the voice of Clarence Renshaw rose above all other peting noises； as he spoke of the functions of the trochaic spondee。 There was nothing outwardly to distinguish this meal from any other which she had shared of late in that house。
The only thing that prevented her relief being unmixed was the fact that she could see Lord Wisbeach casting furtive glances at Jimmy； who was eating with the quiet concentration of one who； after days of boarding…house fare； finds himself in the presence of the masterpieces of a chef。 In the past few days Jimmy had consumed too much hash to worry now about anything like a furtive glance。 He had perceived Lord Wisbeach's roving eye； and had no doubt that at the conclusion of the meal he would find occasion for a little chat。 Meanwhile； however； his duty was towards his tissues and their restoration。 He helped himself liberally from a dish which his father offered him。
He became aware that Mrs。 Pett was addressing him。
〃I beg your pardon？〃
〃Quite like old times；〃 said Mrs。 Pett genially。 Her suspicions had vanished pletely since Lord Wisbeach's recognition of the visitor； and remorse that she should have suspected him made her unwontedly amiable。 〃Being with Skinner again；〃 she explained。 〃It must remind you of London。〃
Jimmy caught his father's expressionless eye。
〃Skinner's；〃 he said handsomely； 〃is a character one cannot help but respect。 His nature expands before one like some beautiful flower。〃
The dish rocked in Mr。 Crocker's hand； but his face remained impassive。
〃There is no vice in Skinner；〃 proceeded Jimmy。 〃His heart is the heart of a little child。〃
Mrs。 Pett looked at this paragon of the virtues in rather a startled way。 She had an unfortable feeling that she was being laughed at。 She began to dislike Jimmy again。
〃For many years Skinner has been a father to me；〃 said Jimmy。 〃Who ran to help me when I fell； And would some pretty story tell； Or kiss the place to make it well？ Skinner。〃
For all her suspense； Ann could not help warming towards an acplice who carried off an unnerving situation with such a flourish。 She had always regarded herself with a fair degree of placency as possessed of no mean stock of courage and resource； but she could not have spoken then without betraying her anxiety。 She thought highly of Jimmy； but all the same she could not help wishing that he would not make himself quite so conspicuous。 Perhapsthe thought chilled herperhaps he was creating quite a new Jimmy Crocker； a character which would cause Skinner and Lord Wisbeach to doubt the evidence of their eyes and begin to suspect the truth。 She wished she could warn him to simmer down； but the table was a large one and he and she were at opposite ends of it。
Jimmy； meanwhile； was thoroughly enjoying himself。 He felt that he was being the little ray of sunshine about the home and making a good impression。 He was pletely happy。 He liked the food； he liked seeing his father buttle； and he liked these amazing freaks who were； it appeared； fellow…inmates with him of this highly desirable residence。 He wished that old Mr。 Pett could have been present。 He had conceived a great affection for Mr。 Pett； and registered a mental resolve to lose no time in weaning him from his distressing habit of allowing the office to interfere with his pleasures。 He was planning a little trip to the Polo Grounds； in which Mr。 Pett； his father； and a number of pop bottles were to be his panions； when his reverie was interrupted by a sudden cessation of the buzz of talk。 He looked up from his plate； to find the entire pany regarding Willie Partridge open…mouthed。 Willie； with gleaming eyes； was gazing at a small test…tube which he had produced from his pocket and placed beside his plate。
〃I have enough in this test…tube；〃 said Willie airily； 〃to blow half New York to bits。〃
The silence was broken by a crash in the background。 Mr。 Crocker had dropped a chafing…dish。
〃If I were to drop this little tube like that；〃 said Willie； using the occurrence as a topical illustration； 〃we shouldn't be here。〃
〃Don't drop it；〃 advised Jimmy。 〃What is it？〃
〃Partridgite！〃
Mrs。 Pett had risen from the table； with blanched face。
〃Willie； how can you bring that stuff here？ What are you thinking of？〃
Willie smiles a patronising smile。
〃There is not the slightest danger； aunt Nesta。 It cannot explode without concussion。 I have been carrying it about with me all the morning。〃
He bestowed on the test…tube the look a fond parent might give his favourite child。 Mrs。 Pett was not reassured。
〃Go and put it in your uncle's safe at once。 Put it away。〃
〃I haven't the bination。〃
〃Call your uncle up at once at the office and ask him。〃
〃Very well。 If you wish it； aunt Nesta。 But there is no danger。〃
〃Don't take that thing with you；〃 screamed Mrs。 Pett； as he rose。 〃You might drop it。 e back for it。〃
〃Very well。〃
Conversation flagged after Willie's departure。 The presence of the test…tube seemed to act on the spirits of the pany after the fashion of the corpse at the Egyptian banquet。 Howard Bemis； who was sitting next to it； edged away imperceptibly till he nearly crowded Ann off her chair。 Presently Willie returned。 He picked up the test…tube； put it in his pocket with a certain jauntiness； and left the room again。
〃Now； if you hear a sudden bang and find yourself disappearing through the roof；〃 said Jimmy； 〃that will be it。〃
Willie returned and took his place at the table again。 But the spirit had gone out of the gathering。 The voice of Clarence Renshaw was hushed； and Howard Bemis spoke no more of the influence of Edgar Lee Masters on modern literature。 Mrs。 Pett left the room； followed by Ann。 The geniuses drifted away one by one。 Jimmy； having lighted a cigarette and finished his coffee； perceived that he was alone with his old friend； Lord Wisbeach； and that his old friend Lord Wisbeach was about to bee confidential。
The fair…haired young man opened the proceedings by going to the door and looking out。 This done； he returned to his seat and gazed fixedly at Jimmy。
〃What's your game？〃 he asked。
Jimmy returned his gaze blandly。
〃My game？〃 he said。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Can the coy stuff；〃 urged his lordship brusquely。 〃Talk sense and talk it quick。 We may be interrupted at any moment。 What's your game？ What are you here for？〃
Jimmy raised his eyebrows。
〃I am a prodigal nephew returned to the fold。〃
〃Oh； quit your kidding。 Are you one of Potter's lot？〃
〃Who is Potter？〃
〃You know who Potter is。〃
〃On the contrary。 My life has never been brightened by so much as a sight of Potter。〃
〃Is that true？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃Are you working on your own； then？〃
〃I am not working at all at present。 There is some talk of my learning to be an Asparagus Adjuster by mail later on。〃
〃You make me sick；〃 said Lord Wisbeach。 〃Where's the sense of trying to