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narrow the range of uncertainty down a bit。 You may have
noticed； for instance； that I'm lunching principally off
lobster Newburg。〃
Jerton had not ventured to notice anything of the
sort。
〃It's an extravagance； because it's one of the most
expensive dishes on the menu； but at any rate it proves
that I'm not Lady Starping； she never touches shell…fish；
and poor Lady Braddleshrub has no digestion at all； if I
am HER I shall certainly die in agony in the course of
the afternoon； and the duty of finding out who I am will
devolve on the press and the police and those sort of
people； I shall be past caring。 Lady Knewford doesn't
know one rose from another and she hates men； so she
wouldn't have spoken to you in any case； and Lady
Mousehilton flirts with every man she meets … I haven't
flirted with you； have I？〃
Jerton hastily gave the required assurance。
〃Well； you see；〃 continued the lady； 〃that knocks
four off the list at once。〃
〃It'll be rather a lengthy process bringing the list
down to one；〃 said Jerton。
〃Oh； but； of course； there are heaps of them that I
couldn't possibly be … women who've got grandchildren or
sons old enough to have celebrated their coming of age。
I've only got to consider the ones about my own age。 I
tell you how you might help me this afternoon； if you
don't mind； go through any of the back numbers of COUNTRY
LIFE and those sort of papers that you can find in the
smoking…room； and see if you come across my portrait with
infant son or anything of that sort。 It won't take you
ten minutes。 I'll meet you in the lounge about tea…time。
Thanks awfully。〃
And the Fair Unknown； having graciously pressed
Jerton into the search for her lost identity； rose and
left the room。 As she passed the young man's table she
halted for a moment and whispered：
〃Did you notice that I tipped the waiter a shilling？
We can cross Lady Ulwight off the list； she would have
died rather than do that。〃
At five o'clock Jerton made his way to the hotel
lounge； he had spent a diligent but fruitless quarter of
an hour among the illustrated weeklies in the smoking…
room。 His new acquaintance was seated at a small tea…
table； with a waiter hovering in attendance。
〃China tea or Indian？〃 she asked as Jerton came up。
〃China； please； and nothing to eat。 Have you
discovered anything？〃
〃Only negative information。 I'm not Lady Befnal。
She disapproves dreadfully of any form of gambling； so
when I recognised a well…known book maker in the hotel
lobby I went and put a tenner on an unnamed filly by
William the Third out of Mitrovitza for the three…fifteen
race。 I suppose the fact of the animal being nameless
was what attracted me。〃
Did it win？〃 asked Jerton。
〃No； came in fourth； the most irritating thing a
horse can do when you've backed it win or place。 Anyhow；
I know now that I'm not Lady Befnal。〃
〃It seems to me that the knowledge was rather dearly
bought；〃 commented Jerton。
〃Well； yes； it has rather cleared me out；〃 admitted
the identity…seeker； 〃a florin is about all I've got left
on me。 The lobster Newburg made my lunch rather an
expensive one； and； of course； I had to tip that boy for
what he did to the Kestrel…Smith locks。 I've got rather
a useful idea； though。 I feel certain that I belong to
the Pivot Club； I'll go back to town and ask the hall
porter there if there are any letters for me。 He knows
all the members by sight； and if there are any letters or
telephone messages waiting for me of course that will
solve the problem。 If he says there aren't any I shall
say： 'You know who I am； don't you？' so I'll find out
anyway。〃
The plan seemed a sound one； a difficulty in its
execution suggested itself to Jerton。
〃Of course；〃 said the lady； when he hinted at the
obstacle； 〃there's my fare back to town； and my bill here
and cabs and things。 If you'll lend me three pounds that
ought to see me through comfortably。 Thanks ever so。
Then there is the question of that luggage： I don't want
to be saddled with that for the rest of my life。 I'll
have it brought down to the hall and you can pretend to
mount guard over it while I'm writing a letter。 Then I
shall just slip away to the station； and you can wander
off to the smoking…room； and they can do what they like
with the things。 They'll advertise them after a bit and
the owner can claim them。〃
Jerton acquiesced in the manoeuvre； and duly mounted
guard over the luggage while its temporary owner slipped
unobtrusively out of the hotel。 Her departure was not；
however； altogether unnoticed。 Two gentlemen were
strolling past Jerton； and one of them remarked to the
other：
〃Did you see that tall young woman in grey who went
out just now？ She is the Lady … 〃
His promenade carried him out of earshot at the
critical moment when he was about to disclose the elusive
identity。 The Lady Who？ Jerton could scarcely run after
a total stranger； break into his conversation； and ask
him for information concerning a chance passer…by。
Besides； it was desirable that he should keep up the
appearance of looking after the luggage。 In a minute or
two； however； the important personage； the man who knew；
came strolling back alone。 Jerton summoned up all his
courage and waylaid him。
〃I think I heard you say you knew the lady who went
out of the hotel a few minutes ago； a tall lady； dressed
in grey。 Excuse me for asking if you could tell me her
name； I've been talking to her for half an hour； she … er
… she knows all my people and seems to know me； so I
suppose I've met her somewhere before； but I'm blest if I
can put a name to her。 Could you … ？〃
〃Certainly。 She's a Mrs。 Stroope。〃
〃MRS。？〃 queried Jerton。
〃Yes； she's the Lady Champion at golf in my part of
the world。 An awful good sort； and goes about a good
deal in Society； but she has an awkward habit of losing
her memory every now and then； and gets into all sorts of
fixes。 She's furious； too； if you make any allusion to
it afterwards。 Good day； sir。〃
The stranger passed on his way； and before Jerton
had had time to assimilate his information he found his
whole attention centred on an angry…looking lady who was
making loud and fretful…seeming inquiries of the hotel
clerks。
〃Has any luggage been brought here from the station
by mistake； a dress…basket and dressing…case； with the
name Kestrel…Smith？ It can't be traced anywhere。 I saw
it put in at Victoria； that I'll swear。 Why … there is
my luggage！ and the locks have been tampered with！〃
Jerton heard no more。 He fled down to the Turkish
bath； and stayed there for hours。
THE STALLED OX
THEOPHIL ESHLEY was an artist by profession； a
cattle painter by force of environment。 It i