rs. Ralston looked at her with wonder in her eyes. "You seem to
forget," she said, "that Richard's murderer is being tried, and that
this man is very strongly suspected of being an abettor if not the
actual instigator of the crime."

Netta flicked the ash from her cigarette with a gesture of impatience.
"I only wish you would let me forget these unpleasant things," she said.
"Why don't you go and preach a sermon to the beautiful Stella Monck on
the same text? Ralph Dacre's death was quite as much of a mystery. And
the kindly gossips are every bit as busy with Captain Monck's reputation
as with His Excellency's. But I suppose her devotion to that wretched
little imbecile baby of hers renders her immune!"

She spoke with intentional malice, but she scarcely expected to strike
home. Mary was not, in her estimation, over-endowed with brains, and she
never seemed to mind a barbed thrust or two. But on this occasion Mrs.
Ralston upset her calculations.

She arose in genuine wrath. "Netta!" she said. "I think you are the most
heartless, callous woman I have ever met!"

And with that she went straight from the room, shutting the door firmly
behind her.

"Good gracious!" commented Netta. "Mary in a tantrum! What an exciting
spectacle!"

She stretched her slim body like a cat as she lay with the warm sunshine
pouring over her, and presently she laughed.

"How funny! How very funny! Netta, my dear, they'll be calling you
wicked next."

She pursed her lips over the adjective as if she rather enjoyed it, then
stretched herself again luxuriously, with sensuous enjoyment. She had
riden with the Rajah in the early morning, and was pleasantly tired.

The sudden approach of Tessa, scampering along the verandah in the wake
of Scooter, sent a quick frown to her face, which deepened swiftly as
Scooter, dodging nimbly, ran into the room and went to earth behind a
bamboo screen.

Tessa sprang in after him, but pulled up sharply at sight of her
mother. The frown upon Netta's face was instantly reflected upon her
own. She stood expectant of rebuke.

"What a noisy child you are!" said Netta. "Are you never quiet, I
wonder? And why did you let that horrid little beast come in here? You
know I detest him."

"He isn't horrid!" said Tessa, instantly on the defensive. "And I
couldn't help him coming in. I didn't know you were here, but it isn't
your bungalow anyway, and Aunt Mary doesn't mind him."

"Oh, go away!" said Netta with irr