ere," she said, pointing to my lady of the
turquoises, "has spoken the truth. Uncle Ferdinand was ill when he
arrived in Paris. He stayed with us--that is, my uncle Maurice and
I--in the Rue d'Hauteville. He seemed to get worse all the time, and
he was worried because of some business in London which he could not
attend to. Then it was arranged that my Uncle Maurice should take his
place and come over here, only no one was to know that it was not
Ferdinand himself. It was secret business for the Brazilian
Government. I do not know what it was about, but it was very
important."

"Your Uncle Maurice, then," I said, "was the uncle who lived in
Paris--whom you knew best?"

She nodded.

"Yes! I have had to call him Ferdinand over here. It was hateful, but
they all said that it was necessary."

A motor drew up outside. The Chinese ambassador stepped out with more
haste than I had ever seen him use, and by his side a man in dark
clothes and silk hat, who from the first I suspected to be a bank
manager. The Brazilian minister welcomed them on the threshold.

"You are looking for Delora?" he exclaimed.

The Chinese ambassador looked around at the little circle. His face
was emotionless, yet he spoke with a haste which was unusual.

"It is true that I seek him," he said. "This morning he has cashed a
cheque for two hundred thousand pounds. I do not understand. There is
a part of our bargain which he has not kept."

A gleam of intelligence flitted into the face of the newly discovered
Delora. He stepped forward.

"It is in order," he said. "You have taken over from my brother, who
represents the Brazilian Government, two new battleships."

"That is so," His Excellency answered, "but I want the indemnity of
your ambassador."

"I cannot give it you," the ambassador declared, "until I have
received the money."

"Where is Delora?" some one asked.

We looked around. The same suspicion was in the minds of all of
us. Delora had fled! I drew my arm through Felicia's, and led her to
the lift.

"Dear," I said, "you must come upstairs with me."

She clung to me a little hysterically.

"What do they mean?" she said. "It is not true that my uncle has been
working for the Government?"

"It is true enough," I answered. "The only point for doubt is what he
has done with the money he received on their account. Your Uncle
Ferdinand there was the person who was intrusted with the plans and
commission. For some reason or other