er.

'Oh,' she exclaimed, 'it is useless, all this story! And the episode is
finished! When I came in here I was angry; I suspect you of some
complicity. But I suspect you no longer, and I see now that the wisest
course for a woman such as I after such an adventure is to be mute about
it, and to forget it.'

'No,' he said; 'you are wrong. Trust me. I entreat.'

Camilla bit her lip.

'We went into the dining-room, and dinner was served,' she recommenced,
'and there I had my first shock, my first doubt, for one of the two
waiters was your spy.'

'Shawn! My detective!'

Hugo was surprised to find that Albert, almost a novice in his
vocation, had contrived to be so insinuating.

'And he made a very bad waiter indeed,' Camilla added.

'I regret it,' said Hugo. 'He meant well.' 'When the waiters had gone I
asked Mr. Tudor if they were his own servants. He hesitated, and then
admitted frankly that they were not. He told me that his servants were
out on leave for the evening. "You don't mean to say that I am now alone
with you in the flat!" I protested. "No," he said quickly. "Mrs. Dant is
always in her room across the passage. Don't be alarmed, dearest." His
tone reassured me. After coffee, he took my photograph by flashlight. He
printed one copy at once, and then, after we had both been in the
dark-room together, he returned there to get some more printing-paper.
While he was absent I went into the housekeeper's room for a
handkerchief which I had left there. Mrs. Dant was not in the room. But
in a mirror I saw the reflection of a man hiding behind the door. I was
awfully frightened. However, I pretended to see nothing, and tried to
hum a song. I same into the passage. The passage window was open, and I
looked out. Another man was watching on the balcony. Of course, I saw
instantly it was a plot. I--I--'

'Did you recognise the men, then?' Hugo asked.

'The one in the room I was not quite sure of. The other, on the balcony,
was your detective, I think. I saw him disappear in this direction.'

'But whatever the plot was, Shawn had no hand in it.'

'No, no, of course not! I see now. But the other, in the room! Ah, if
you knew all my history, you would understand better! I felt that some
vengeance was out against me. I saw everything clearly. I tried to keep
my head, and to decide calmly what I ought to do. It was from a little
table in the passage that I picked up the revolver. Then I heard hurried
footsteps comi