n't been able to lie to Diana; but I had no
compunctions about doing it now, if it were to help Maxine. The worst
was, that I was far from sure it would help her.

"I trust, Monsieur, that you do not wish to prevent the French police
from doing their duty," said the officer, his tone becoming peremptory
for the first time. "Should you attempt it, I should unfortunately be
compelled to order that Monsieur be searched."

"You seem to forget that you're dealing with a British subject," said I.

"Who is offending against the laws of a friendly country," he capped my
words. "You can complain afterwards, Monsieur. But now--"

"Why don't you empty your pockets, Mr. Dundas," suggested Maxine,
lightly, yet contemptuously, "and show them that you've nothing in which
the police can have any interest? I suppose the next thing they propose,
will be to search me."

"I deeply regret to say that will be the next thing, Mademoiselle,
unless satisfaction is given to me," returned the Commissary of Police.

Maxine threw back her thick veil; and if this were the first time these
men had ever seen the celebrated actress off the stage, it seemed to me
that her beauty must almost have dazzled them, thus suddenly displayed.
For Maxine is a gloriously handsome woman, and never had she been most
striking, more wonderful, than at that moment, when her dark eyes
laughed out of her white face, and her red lips smiled as if neither
they, nor the great eyes, had any secret to hide.

"Look at me," she said, throwing back her arms in such a way as to bring
forward her slender body, in the tight black sheath of the dress which
was of the fashion which, I think, women call "Princess." It fitted her
as smoothly as the gloves that covered her arms to the elbows.

"Do you think there is much chance for concealment in this dress?" she
asked. "I haven't a pocket, you see. No self-respecting woman could
have, in a gown like this. I don't know in the least what sort of 'gift'
my old friend is supposed to have brought me. Is it large or small? I'll
take off my gloves and let you see my rings, if you like, Monsieur le
Commisaire, for I've been taught, as a servant of the public, to be
civil to my fellow servants, even if they should be unreasonable. No?
You don't want to see my rings? Let me oblige you by taking off my hat,
then. I might have put the thing--whatever it is--in my hair."

As she spoke, she drew out her hatpins, still laughing in a half
sco