ly, "you offered just now to give me this,
thinking that I had lost it. Of course I should not accept a present
from one whom I have had the pleasure of knowing for so short a time,
but you are Mr. Mitchel's friend, and as I would really prefer not to
have my portrait in the hands of strangers, I accept your gift with
thanks."

This was entirely unexpected. When Mr. Barnes had made the remark that
he would be glad to restore her her own, he had done so feeling safe,
because to obtain it she would need to admit that she had lost it. Now
it seemed that she had deprived him of his piece of evidence. He did not
know what to say, when Mr. Mitchel walked across to them and remarked
pleasantly:

"Well, Emily, do you find my friend Mr. Barnes entertaining?"

"Mr. Barnes has been most agreeable, Roy, and see, he has actually given
me a present," saying which she handed the button to Mr. Mitchel across
whose countenance Mr. Barnes thought he saw a fleeting smile of triumph
pass.

"I am proud of you, Emily. You command homage wherever you extend your
influence. Do you know, Mr. Barnes refused to give this cameo to me,
only this morning. You can guess why I wanted it."

"Because it has my picture copied on it?"

"Exactly. Mr. Barnes, allow me to add my thanks to those of Miss Remsen.
You can readily appreciate why we prefer to have this bauble in our own
possession?"

Mr. Barnes thought that he could. He saw that he was fairly caught and
that he could do nothing without making a scene. He met a glance from
Mr. Mitchel which he knew was meant to remind him of his promise not to
annoy Miss Remsen. He had about decided that he had been a fool to make
such a promise and to have visited the place at all, when he suddenly
changed his mind, as a servant announced:

"Mr. Alphonse Thauret."

Immediately the detective remembered the name. It was upon the card
given to him by the Frenchman who had left the train at Stamford. He was
watching Mr. Mitchel when the newcomer was thus unexpectedly announced,
and he thought he detected a glance of displeasure. Were these two men
acquainted, accomplices perhaps?

"Mr. Mitchel, let me present Mr. Thauret," said Dora.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman before," replied Mr.
Mitchel, and with a stiff bow he crossed to the side of Emily as though
to prevent an introduction to her. This, of course, was impossible, and
Mr. Mitchel was plainly annoyed. Emily stepped forward, ext