al things in order that justice may not be
defeated. This he felt was one of the occasions. He ignored her
protestations and left the room, closing the door after him. For a brief
moment the woman forgot the breeding of the Princess Petrovska in the
fiery passion of Lola the dancer. But if she meditated resistance, a
second's reflection convinced her that it would be futile. The matron,
for all her good-tempered face, was well developed muscularly, and did
not seem the kind of woman to be trifled with. The Princess submitted
with as good a grace as she could muster.

As the woman drew forth the casket of jewels Lola made one false move.
She laid a slim-gloved hand on her arm.

"If you want to earn ten pounds you will give me that back," she said
softly.

The matron shook her head with so resolute an expression that the word
"twenty," which trembled on the Princess Petrovska's lips, was never
uttered. Gathering in her hands the articles she had found, she stepped
outside. In three minutes her place was taken by Foyle. He quietly
returned to her everything but the jewel case. This he held between his
fingers.

"Where did you get this?" he demanded. His voice was keyed to the stern,
official tone he knew so well how to assume.

She gripped the side of a chair tightly.

"What is that to do with you? It is mine. Give it to me."

"Not unless you can prove it is yours. If you do not, I shall charge you
with being in possession of property suspected to be stolen."

She bit her lips until the blood came. Her face had become very pale. If
the threat were meant seriously--and she could see no reason why it
should not be--she was in an awkward predicament. Ordinarily she had
ready resource, a fertile genius for invention. Now her wits seemed to
have deserted her. Cudgel her brains as she would, she could see no way
out of the difficulty. To boldly state that the jewels had been
entrusted to her by Eileen would involve opening up a fresh line of
inquiry for the C.I.D. men that might have disastrous results. Nor was
there any person who might bear out a story invented on the spur of the
moment.

"Well?" He spoke coldly.

"I refuse to tell you where I got them," she retorted. "You must do as
you like."

"Then it is my duty to warn you that anything you say may be used in
evidence against you. You will be charged." He opened the door and cried
down the corridor, "Reserve!" To the constable who answered he indicated
the P