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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 is not to be
supposed that he lived on a ranche or a dairy farm； in an
atmosphere pervaded with horn and hoof； milking…stool；
and branding…iron。 His home was in a park…like； villa…
dotted district that only just escaped the reproach of
being suburban。 On one side of his garden there abutted
a small； picturesque meadow； in which an enterprising
neighbour pastured some small picturesque cows of the
Channel Island persuasion。 At noonday in summertime the
cows stood knee…deep in tall meadow…grass under the shade
of a group of walnut trees； with the sunlight falling in
dappled patches on their mouse…sleek coats。 Eshley had
conceived and executed a dainty picture of two reposeful
milch…cows in a setting of walnut tree and meadow…grass
and filtered sunbeam； and the Royal Academy had duly
exposed the same on the walls of its Summer Exhibition。
The Royal Academy encourages orderly； methodical habits
in its children。 Eshley had painted a successful and
acceptable picture of cattle drowsing picturesquely under
walnut trees； and as he had begun； so； of necessity； he
went on。 His 〃Noontide Peace；〃 a study of two dun cows
under a walnut tree； was followed by 〃A Mid…day
Sanctuary；〃 a study of a walnut tree； with two dun cows
under it。 In due succession there came 〃Where the Gad…
Flies Cease from Troubling；〃 〃The Haven of the Herd；〃 and
〃A…dream in Dairyland；〃 studies of walnut trees and dun
cows。 His two attempts to break away from his own
tradition were signal failures： 〃Turtle Doves alarmed by
Sparrow…hawk〃 and 〃Wolves on the Roman Campagna〃 came
back to his studio in the guise of abominable heresies；
and Eshley climbed back into grace and the public gaze
with 〃A Shaded Nook where Drowsy Milkers Dream。〃
On a fine afternoon in late autumn he was putting
some finishing touches to a study of meadow weeds when
his neighbour； Adela Pingsford； assailed the outer door
of his studio with loud peremptory knockings。
〃There is an ox in my garden；〃 she announced； in
explanation of the tempestuous intrusion。
〃An ox；〃 said Eshley blankly； and rather fatuously；
〃what kind of ox？〃
〃Oh； I don't know what kind；〃 snapped the lady。 〃A
common or garden ox； to use the slang expression。 It is
the garden part of it that I object to。 My garden has
just been put straight for the winter； and an ox roaming
about in it won't improve matters。 Besides； there are
the chrysanthemums just coming into flower。〃
〃How did it get into the garden？〃 asked Eshley。
〃I imagine it came in by the gate；〃 said the lady
impatiently； 〃it couldn't have climbed the walls； and I
don't suppose anyone dropped it from an aeroplane as a
Bovril advertisement。 The immediately important question
is not how it got in； but how to get it out。〃
〃Won't it go？〃 said Eshley。
〃If it was anxious to go；〃 said Adela Pingsford
rather angrily； 〃I should not have come here to chat with
you about it。 I'm practically all alone； the housemaid
is having her afternoon out and the cook is lying down
with an attack of neuralgia。 Anything that I may have
learned at school or in after life about how to remove a
large ox from a small garden seems to have escaped from
my memory now。 All I could think of was that you were a
near neighbour and a cattle painter； presumably more or
less familiar with the subjects that you painted； and
that you might be of some slight assistance。 Possibly I
was mistaken。〃
〃I paint dairy cows； certainly；〃 admitted Eshley；
〃but I cannot claim to have had any experience in
rounding…up stray oxen。 I've seen it done on a cinema
film； of course； but there were always horses and lots of
other accessories； besides； one never knows how much of
those pictures are faked。〃
Adela Pingsford said nothing； but led the way to her
garden。 It was normally