might be her, but it
cannot be. If she is guilty--as she must be, should she have sent the
emerald--she would not part with her plunder when she is so hard up.
I am beginning to believe, Hope, that what she said was true about the
letter."

"How do you mean exactly?"

"That the letter was mere bluff and that she really knows nothing about
the crime. By the way, did Braddock learn anything?"

"Not a thing. He merely said that the two of them fought. I expect
Braddock stormed and Mrs. Jasher retorted. Both of them have too much
tongue-music to come to any understanding. By the way--to echo, your own
phrase--you had better put away this gem or I shall be strangling
you myself in order to gain possession of it. The mere sight of that
gorgeous color tempts me beyond my strength."

Random laughed and locked the jewel in his drawer. Hope suggested that
with such a flimsy lock it was unsafe, but the baronet shook his head.

"It is safer here than in a woman's jewel case," he asserted. "No one
looks to my drawer, and certainly no one would expect to find a crown
jewel of this description in my quarters. Well," he came back to his
seat, slipping his keys into his trouser pocket, "the whole thing
puzzles me."

"Why not do as I suggest and go to Mrs. Jasher? In any case you are
going there to-night, are you not?"

"Yes. I want to decide what to do about the woman. I had intended to go
alone, but as you are here you may as well come also."

"I shall be delighted. What do you intend to do?"

"Help her," said Random briefly.

"She doesn't deserve it," replied Hope, lighting a fresh cigarette.

"Does anyone ever deserve anything?" asked Sir Frank cynically. "What
does Miss Kendal think of the business? I suppose Braddock told her. He
has too long a tongue to keep anything to himself."

"He told her at dinner, when I was present. Lucy is quite on your side.
She says that she had known Mrs. Jasher for months and that there is
good in her, although I am bound to say that Lucy was a trifle shocked."

"Does she want Mrs. Jasher to marry her father now?"

"Her step-father," corrected Archie immediately. "No, that is out of
the question. But she would like Mrs. Jasher to be helped out of
her difficulties and have a fair start. It was only by the greatest
diplomacy that I prevented Lucy going to see the wretched woman this
evening."

"Why did you prevent her?"

Archie colored.

"I daresay I am a trifle prudish," he repli