She was
shown into an inner room, where she was offered an armchair. Upon
taking it, Mr Napper gravely seated himself at a desk and said:
"Mr Keating is un'appily absent. Any confidence made to me is the
same as made to 'im."
Mavis recited her trouble, of which Mr Napper put down the details.
When he had got these, Mavis waited in suspense. Mr Napper looked at
his watch.
"Do you think you can do anything?" Mavis asked.
"I'm going to do my best, quite as much for Miss Meakin's sake as
for the dignity of my profession," replied Mr Napper. "Please read
through this, and, if it is correct, kindly sign."
Here he handed Mavis a statement of all she had told him in respect
of her loss. After seeing that it was rightly set down, she signed
"Mavis Kenrick" at the foot of the document.
"Vincent!" cried Mr Napper, as Mavis handed it back.
"Yessur," answered the tiny office-boy smartly, as he made the most
of his height in the doorway.
"I am going out on important business."
"Yessur."
"I shan't be back for the best part of an hour."
"Yessur."
"If this lady cares to, she will wait till my return."
"Yessur.
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