ck to Scotland and a
convent-school. The last place I went--while Miss Bland waited here
keeping her eye on you all from a distance, and maybe spying out things
on her own account--was that convent. I raked up old gossip outside, and
I got in easily enough, for the Mother Superior and the nuns are nice to
visitors who seem interested. But the minute I began to ask questions
about a pupil in the school who'd run away, the good ladies shut up like
oysters. I had to leave defeated as far as the last part of my job was
concerned, though I'm not used to fail. One thing I did accomplish,
though: I looked hard at a picture in the reception room, with a lot of
girls in it, pupils of the school, and I memorized every face. _The
Princess was not there_; but this young lady was; and her name I find
now is Mary Grant. Unfortunately she's been a good deal talked about in
Monte Carlo, it seems. Miss Bland knows that. I saw her in the woods but
couldn't be certain at a distance, so I said nothing then to Miss Bland.
Since then she hasn't given me time. And now whatever happens, I wash my
hands of the whole business."

Angelo had listened quietly, after realizing that Miss Jewett's object
was to justify his wife, not to incriminate her. And though Marie needed
no justification in his eyes, it was well that Idina should hear it from
the lips of her own paid employe.

When the self-confessed detective had finished, he turned upon his
cousin eyes of implacable coldness.

"You are punished for your malevolence," he said, "though to my mind no
punishment could be severe enough. Go, with your humiliation, the
knowledge of your failure and my contempt for you. If possible, you have
made me love my wife better than ever. But before you go, understand
this: if you attempt to attack her again--if I hear of any malicious
gossip, as I shall hear, provided you utter it--I shall pursue you with
the law. Without any fear of exposure, since there is nothing to expose,
I will prosecute you for slander, and you will go to prison. This is no
empty threat. It is a warning. And it is all I have to say."

He walked swiftly to the end of the loggia and touched an electric bell
on the house-wall. While Idina Bland and Miss Jewett stood in silence
Americo came, smiling as usual, to the door-window.

"These ladies are going," announced the Prince. "Show them out."

* * * * * * *

When they had gone, he we