ng Grand Duchess of Esthonia. ... Do you remember that I
befriended her over there?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember that the Reds were accused of burning her chateau and
looting it?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, it was Quintana and his gang of international criminals who did
that," said Darragh drily.

And, to Eve: "By accident this case of jewels, emblazoned with the coat
of arms of the Grand Duchess of Esthonia, came into your father's
possession. That is the story, Eve."

There was a silence. The girl looked at Stormont, flushed painfully,
looked at Darragh.

Then, without a word, she turned ascended the stairs, and reappeared
immediately carrying the leather case.

"Thank you, Mr. Darragh," she said simply; and laid the case in his
hand.

"But," said Darragh, "I want you to do a little more, Eve. The owner of
these gems is my guest at Harrod Place. I want you to give them to her
yourself."

"I -- I can't go to Harrod Place," stammered the girl.

"Please don't visit the sins of Henry Harrod on me, Eve."

"I -- don't. But -- but that place----"

After a silence: "If Eve feels that way," began Stormont awkwardly, "I
couldn't become associated with you in business, Jim----"

"I'd rather sell Harrod Place than lose you!" retorted Darragh almost
sharply. "I want to go into business with you, Jack -- if Eve will
permit me----"

She stood looking at Stormont, the heightened colour playing in her
cheeks as she began to comprehend the comradeship between these two men.

Slowly she turned to Darragh, offered her hand:

"I'll go to Harrod Place," she said in a low voice.

Darragh's quick smile brightened the sombre gravity of his face.

"Eve," he said, "when I came over here this morning from Harrod Place I
was afraid you would refuse to listen to me; I was afraid you would not
even see me. And so I brought with me -- somebody -- to whom I felt
certain you would listen. ... I brought with me a young girl -- a poor
refugee from Russia, once wealthy, to-day almost penniless. ... Her name
is Theodorica. ... Once she was Grand Duchess of Esthonia. ... But this
morning a clergyman from Five Lakes changed her name. ... To such
friends as you and Jack she is Ricca Darragh now ... and she's having a
wonderful time on my new snow-shoes----"

He took Eve by one hand and Stormont by the other, and drew them to the
kitchen door and kicked it open.

Through the swirling snow, over the lake-slope at the timber ed