kly. "If Lydia wants to go, there is no reason
why she shouldn't. The isolation people are never allowed to come into
contact with visitors, so there is really no danger."

"I agree with Mrs. Cole-Mortimer," grumbled Briggerland. "It is very
foolish to ask for trouble. You take my advice, my dear, and keep
away."

"I had a talk with a gendarme this morning," said Lydia to change the
subject. "When he stopped and got off his bicycle I thought he was going
to speak about the shooting. I suppose it was reported to the police?"

"Er--yes," said Mr. Briggerland, not looking up from his plate, "of
course. Have you been into Monte Carlo?"

Lydia shook her head.

"No, I couldn't sleep, and I was taking a walk along the road when he
passed." She said nothing about Mr. Jaggs. "The police at Monaco are
very sociable."

Mr. Briggerland sniffed.

"Very," he said.

"Have they any theories?" she asked. In her innocence she was persisting
in a subject which was wholly distasteful to Mr. Briggerland. "About the
shooting I mean?"

"Yes, they have theories, but my dear, I should advise you not to
discuss the matter with the police. The fact is," invented Mr.
Briggerland, "I told them that you were unaware of the fact that you had
been shot at, and if you discussed it with the police, you would make me
look rather foolish."

When Lydia and Mrs. Cole-Mortimer had gone, Jean seized an opportunity
which the absence of the maid offered.

"I hope you are beginning to see how perfectly insane your scheme was,"
she said. "You have to support your act with a whole series of bungling
lies. Possibly Marcus, like a fool, has mentioned it in Monte Carlo, and
we shall have the detectives out here asking why you have not reported
the matter."

"If I were as clever as you----" he growled.

"You're not," said Jean, rolling her serviette. "You're the most
un-clever man I know."

Chapter XXIV

Lydia went up to her bedroom to put away her clothes and found the maid
making the bed.

"Oh, madame," said the girl, "I forgot to speak to you about a matter--I
hope madame will not be angry."

"I'm hardly likely to be angry on a morning like this," said Lydia.

"It is because of this matter," said the girl. She groped in her pocket
and brought out a small shining object, and Lydia took it from her hand.

"This matter" was a tiny silver cross, so small that a five-franc piece
would have covered it easily. It was brightly polished and