word so far
that it's all right----"

"Naturally," said Stormont simply.

The two men, who had been brother officers in the Great War, glanced at
each other, slightly smiling.

"Here it is then," said Darragh. "When I was on duty in Riga for the
Intelligence Department, I met two ladies in dire distress, whose
mansion had been burned and looted, supposedly by the Bolsheviki.

"They were actually hungry an penniless; the only clothing they
possessed they were wearing. These ladies were the Countess
Orloff-Strelwitz, and a young girl, Theodorica, Grand Duchess of
Esthonia. ... I did what I could for them. After a while, in the course
of other duty, I found out that the Bolsheviki had had nothing to do
with the arson and robbery, but that the crime had been perpetrated by
Jose Quintana's gang of international crooks masquerading as
Bolsheviki."

Stormont nodded: "I also came across similar cases," he remarked.

"Well, this was a flagrant example. Quintana had burnt the chateau and
made off with over two million dollars worth of the little Grand
Duchess's jewels -- among them the famous Erosite gem known as The
Flaming Jewel."

"I've heard of it."

"There are only two others known. ... Well, I did what I could with the
Esthonian police, who didn't believe me.

"But after a short time ago the Countess Orloff sent me word that
Quintana really was the guilty one, and that he had started for America.

"I've been after him ever since. ... But, Jack, until this morning
Quintana did not possess these stolen jewels, _Clinch did!_"

"What!"

"Clinch served over-seas in a Forestry Regiment. In Paris he robbed
Quintana of these jewels. That's why I've been hanging around Clinch."

Stormont's face was flushed and incredulous. Then it lost colour as he
thought of the jewels that Eve had concealed -- the gems for which she
had risked her life.

He said: "But you tell me Quintana robbed you this morning."

"He did. The little Grand Duchess and the Countess Orloff-Strelwitz are
my guests at Harrod Place.

"Last night I snatched the case containing these gems from Quintana's
fingers. This morning, as I offered them to the Grand Duchess, Quintana
coolly stepped between us----"

His voice became bitter and his features reddened with rage poorly
controlled:

"By God, Jack, I should have shot Quintana when the opportunity offered.
Twice I've had the chance. The next time I shall kill him any way I
can. ... Le