Then he returned to his chair, and, leaning back in it, was seeing once again in his mind’s eye the fair face of the girl who had just left him, when there was a rap at the door, and the commissionaire announced Miss Martin.

“Another of them,” Kelson said to himself.  “And about as pretty in her way as the last.  Now I wonder what she wants.”  He looked closely at her, but no past rose up before him—­as far as this client was concerned his power of divination in that direction was nil—­she was a blank.

“I’ve come to ask you the meaning of a dream I had last night,” she began, inwardly shuddering at the sight of so much pomade and jewellery.

“Yes,” he said with an encouraging smile, “what was it?”

Of course she did not tell him all, but merely that she had dreamed of certain flowers and trees as, curiously enough, so had her father.

Kelson looked at her thoughtfully.  Once he opened his mouth to speak and then checked himself; and it was some seconds before he actually broke silence.

“Taken separately,” he said at last, “the ash tree portends an unexpected visit; a poppy, a visit from a man; red roses, falling in love; lilac, a present; a willow, kisses—­heaps of them; bluebells, a proposal; brambles, difficulties in the way—­for example, tiresome relatives; buttercups, a marriage; an ash tree, a son and heir—­a dear little——­”

“Thank you!” Gladys remarked, rising frigidly.  Thank you!  I will go now.  What is your fee?”

“I trust, madam, you are pleased,” Kelson said in great distress.

“Will you kindly take your fee and let me out,” Gladys demanded, as he nervously placed himself in her way.  “Thank you.  Good morning!”

And as she swept regally past him and down the stone passage, Hamar came out of his room and passed by her on his way to Kelson’s office.

“Ye gods!” he exclaimed, eyeing the discomfited Kelson wrathfully.  “What in the world have you done to offend the lady?  I never saw any one look so angry in my life.  D—­n it all!  I hope you didn’t insult her!”

“It was all your fault!” Kelson wailed.  “She asked me to tell her the meaning of a dream which was brimful of warnings against us.”

“Against us!”

“Yes, against us!  I have never listened to such admonitions in a dream before.  She must have some very friendly spirits watching over her.  Well! what was I to do?  I did my best.  Mindful of what you said to me a short time ago, I put her entirely off the track; gave her an entirely misleading—­and as I thought very pleasant—­interpretation of the dream.”

“What did you say?”

Kelson told him.

“Jackass!” Hamar exclaimed.  “Jackass!  You were far too broad.  What pleases a San Francisco girl shocks a London lady.  For goodness sake have more tact another time, we don’t want to get into hot water.  I feel quite convinced that if any harm befalls us—­if that compact is in any way broken—­it will be through you.  I wish to heaven the Unknown had given you some other power.”