Four INTRODUCING A VERY CHARMING LADY

George Lomax returned straightway to Whitehall. As he entered thesumptuous apartment in which he transacted¹ affairs of State, there was ascuffling sound.
Mr. Bill Eversleigh was assiduously filing letters, but a large armchairnear the window was still warm from contact with a human form.
A very likeable young man, Bill Eversleigh. Age at a guess, twenty-five,big and rather ungainly in his movements, a pleasantly ugly face, a splen-did set of white teeth and a pair of honest brown eyes.
“Richardson sent up that report yet?”
“No, sir. Shall I get on to him about it?”
“It doesn’t matter. Any telephone messages?”
“Miss Oscar is dealing² with most of them. Mr. Isaacstein wants to knowif you can lunch with him at the Savoy tomorrow.”
“Tell Miss Oscar to look in my engagement book. If I’m not engaged, shecan ring up and accept.”
“Yes, sir.”
“By the way, Eversleigh, you might ring up a number for me now. Lookit up in the book. Mrs. Revel³, 487 Pont Street.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bill seized the telephone book, ran an unseeing eye down a column ofM’s, shut the book with a bang and moved to the instrument on the desk.
With his hand upon it, he paused, as though in sudden recollection.
“Oh, I say, sir, I’ve just remembered. Her line’s out of order. Mrs.
Revel’s, I mean. I was trying to ring her up just now.”
George Lomax frowned.
“Annoying,” he said, “distinctly annoying.” He tapped the table unde-cidedly.
“If it’s anything important, sir, perhaps I might go round there now in ataxi. She is sure to be in at this time in the morning.”
George Lomax hesitated, pondering the matter. Bill waited expectantly,poised for instant flight, should the reply be favourable⁴.
“Perhaps that would be the best plan,” said Lomax at last. “Very well,then, take a taxi there, and ask Mrs. Revel if she will be at home this after-noon at four o’clock as I am very anxious to see her about an importantmatter.”
“Right, sir.”
Bill seized his hat and departed.
Ten minutes later, a taxi deposited him at 487 Pont Street. He rang thebell and executed a loud rat-tat on the knocker. The door was opened by agrave

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