I like the idea. Can't I speak openly, ask her quite
plainly why she has done this thing--what perverted notion of--well,
resentment she has against me which would lead her to act in this
manner?"

To Anstice's relief Major Carstairs vetoed this plan, unhesitatingly.

"No, Chloe, that is an absolutely impossible suggestion! As Dr. Anstice
says, guile must be met with guile, and the only way to catch this woman
is to take her absolutely red-handed. And if, as you seem to think, she
is likely to creep down in the night--well, it could do no harm to set a
watch."

"There is one reason against that delightfully simple plan of yours,"
objected Chloe. "Tochatti would not be likely to write any more of these
letters with you in the house, Leo. You see, it would be very serious
for her if _you_ encountered her at my writing-table in the night!"

Before Carstairs could reply Anstice spoke rather diffidently.

"I have just one suggestion to make, Major Carstairs. Am I right in
supposing you are staying down here to-night?"

A fleeting embarrassment was visible on the faces of both Major
Carstairs and his wife; but the former answered resolutely:

"Yes. I am certainly hoping to stay here."

"Well, if I might just make a suggestion, why not give out that you are
returning to town to-night and coming down to stay to-morrow or the next
day? Tochatti would probably, thinking this her last opportunity, make
haste to seize it and write another letter or two--possibly the
last--to-night."

"You mean give out that I am returning to town to-night; start, in fact,
in reality, and come back later, when the house is quiet?"

"Yes," said Anstice, wondering what the soldier thought of his amateur
strategy. "Then you--and anyone else you choose--could sit up here and
wait events."

"I admire the simplicity of your plan, Dr. Anstice," returned Carstairs
with an irrepressible laugh. "I've been called upon to exercise
diplomacy at times myself, but I don't think I ever hit on anything more
telling in the way of a plan than this charmingly simple one of yours!"

"You approve of it, then?" Anstice was in no wise offended by the
other's mirth.

"Highly--it's just the plan to appeal to me," said Carstairs, still
smiling infectiously; and Chloe rose from her couch and coming to his
chair seated herself on the arm and rested her hand on his shoulder.

"I know why the plan appeals to you, Leo! It recalls your schoolboy
days, when you pre