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〃What are you doing there？〃 he demanded。
〃Listening。〃
〃How did you get there？〃
〃There's a door back here that you get to from the stairs。 I often e here for a quiet cigarette。 Say； you think yourself some josher； don't you； telling me you were a kidnapper！ You strung me like an onion。 So you're really Jimmy Crocker after all？ Where was the sense in pulling all that stuff about taking me away and divvying up the ransom？ Aw； you make me tired！〃
The head was withdrawn； and Jimmy heard heavy steps followed by the banging of a door。 Peace reigned in the library。
Jimmy sat down in the chair which was Mr。 Pett's favourite and which Ogden was accustomed to occupy to that gentleman's displeasure。 The swiftness of recent events had left him a little dizzy； and he desired to think matters over and find out exactly what had happened。
The only point which appeared absolutely clear to him in a welter of confusing occurrences was the fact that he had lost the chance of kidnapping Ogden。 Everything had arranged itself so beautifully simply and conveniently as regarded that venture until a moment ago； but now that the boy had discovered his identity it was impossible for him to attempt it。 He was loth to accept this fact。 Surely； even now； there was a way 。 。 。
Quite suddenly an admirable plan occurred to him。 It involved the co…operation of his father。 And at that thought he realised with a start that life had been moving so rapidly for him since his return to the house that he had not paid any attention at all to what was really as amazing a mystery as any。 He had been too busy to wonder why his father was there。
He debated the best method of getting in touch with him。 It was out of the question to descend to the pantry or wherever it was that his father lived in this new incarnation of his。 Then the happy thought struck him that results might be obtained by the simple process of ringing the bell。 It might produce some other unit of the domestic staff。 However； it was worth trying。 He rang the bell。
A few moments later the door opened。 Jimmy looked up。 It was not his father。 It was a dangerous…looking female of uncertain age； dressed as a parlour…maid； who eyed him with what seemed to his conscience…stricken soul dislike and suspicion。 She had a tight…lipped mouth and beady eyes beneath heavy brows。 Jimmy had seldom seen a woman who attracted him less at first sight。
〃Jer ring； S'？〃
Jimmy blinked and almost ducked。 The words had e at him like a projectile。
〃Oh； ah； yes。〃
〃J' want anything； s'？〃
With an effort Jimmy induced his mind to resume its interrupted equilibrium。
〃Oh； ah； yes。 Would you mind sending Skinner the butler to me。〃
〃Y's'r。〃
The apparition vanished。 Jimmy drew out his handkerchief and dabbed at his forehead。 He felt weak and guilty。 He felt as if he had just been accused of nameless crimes and had been unable to deny the charge。 Such was the magic of Miss Trimble's eyethe left one； which looked directly at its object。 Conjecture pauses baffled at the thought of the effect which her gaze might have created in the breasts of the sex she despised； had it been double instead of single…barrelled。 But half of it had wasted itself on a spot some few feet to his right。
Presently the door opened again； and Mr。 Crocker appeared； looking like a benevolent priest。
CHAPTER XIX
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON
〃WELL； Skinner； my man；〃 said Jimmy； 〃how goes it？〃
Mr。 Crocker looked about him cautiously。 Then his priestly manner fell from him like a robe； and he bounded forward。
〃Jimmy！〃 he exclaimed； seizing his son's hand and shaking it violently。 〃Say； it's great seeing you again； Jim！〃
Jimmy drew himself up haughtily。
〃Skinner； my good menial； you forget yourself strangely！ You will be getting fired if you mitt the handsome guest in this chummy fashion！〃 He slapped his father on the back。 〃Dad； this is great！ How on earth do you e to be here？ What's the idea？ Why the buttling？ When did you e over？ Tell me all！〃
Mr。 Crocker hoisted himself nimbly onto the writing…desk； and sat there； beaming； with dangling legs。
〃It was your letter that did it； Jimmy。 Say； Jim； there wasn't any need for you to do a thing like that just for me。〃
〃Well； I thought you would have a better chance of being a peer without me around。 By the way； dad； how did my step…mother take the Lord Percy episode？〃
A shadow fell upon Mr。 Crocker's happy face。
〃I don't like to do much thinking about your step…mother；〃 he said。 〃She was pretty sore about Percy。 And she was pretty sore about your lighting out for America。 But； gee！ what she must be feeling like now that I've e over； I daren't let myself think。〃
〃You haven't explained that yet。 Why did you e over？〃
〃Well； I'd been feeling homesickI always do over there in the baseball seasonand then talking with Pett made it worse〃
〃Talking with Pett？ Did you see him； then； when he was in London？〃
〃See him？ I let him in！〃
〃How？〃
〃Into the house； I mean。 I had just gone to the front door to see what sort of a day it wasI wanted to know if there had been enough rain in the night to stop my having to watch that cricket gameand just as I got there the bell rang。 I opened the door。〃
〃A revoltingly plebeian thing to do！ I'm ashamed of you； dad！ They won't stand for that sort of thing in the House of Lords！〃
〃Well； before I knew what was happening they had taken me for the butler。 I didn't want your step…mother to know I'd been opening doorsyou remember how touchy she was always about it so I just let it go at that and jollied them along。 But I just couldn't help asking the old man how the pennant race was making out； and that tickled him so much that he offered me a job here as butler if I ever wanted to make a change。 And then your note came saying that you were going to New York； andwell； I couldn't help myself。 You couldn't have kept me in London with ropes。 I sneaked out next day and bought a passage on the Carmanticshe sailed the Wednesday after you leftand came straight here。 They gave me this job right away。〃 Mr。 Crocker paused； and a holy light of enthusiasm made his homely features almost beautiful。 〃Say； Jim； I've seen a ball…game every darned day since I landed！ Say； two days running Larry Doyle made home…runs！ But； gosh！ that guy Klem is one swell robber！ See here！〃 Mr。 Crocker sprang down from the desk； and snatched up a handful of books； which he proceeded to distribute about the floor。 〃There were two men on bases in the sixth and What's…his…name came to bat。 He lined one out to centre…fieldwhere this book isand〃
〃Pull yourself together； Skinner！ You can't monkey about with the employer's library like that。〃 Jimmy restored the books to their places。 〃Simmer down and tell me more。 Postpone the gossip from the diamond。 What plans have you made？ Have you considered the future at all？ You aren't going to hold down this buttling job forever； are you？ When do you go back to London？〃
The light died out of Mr。 Crocker's face。
〃I guess I shall have to go back some time。 But how can I yet； with the Giants leading the league like this？〃
〃But did you just light out without saying anything？〃
〃I left a note for