She laid her hand on Harry's arm. "Mr. Kerr is just about to accuse us
of being impostors," she announced. She had robbed the situation of its
peril by gaily turning it exactly inside out.

The judge blinked, puzzled at this extraordinary statement. Harry was
disconcerted; but Kerr showed an astonishment that amazed her--a concern
that she could not understand. He stared at her. Then he laughed rather
shakily as he turned to her with a mock gallant bow.

"All women impose upon us, madam. And as for Mr. Cressy"--he fixed Harry
with a look--"I could not accuse him of being an impostor since we have
met in the sacred limits of of St. James'."

The two glances that crossed before Flora's watchful eyes were keen as
thrust and parry of rapiers. Harry bowed stiffly.

"I believe, for a fact, we did _not_ meet, but I think I saw you there
once--at some Embassy ball."

The words rang, to Flora's ears, as if they had been shouted from the
housetops. In the speaking pause that followed there was audible an
unknown hortatory voice from the smoking-room.

"I tell you it's a damn-fool way to manage it! What's the good of twenty
thousand dollars' reward?" Flora clutched nervously at the back of her
chair. She seemed to see the danger of discovery piling up above Kerr
like a mountain.

The judge chuckled. "You see what you saved me from. They've been at it
hammer and tongs all the evening. Every man in town has his idea on
that subject."

"For instance, what is that one?" Kerr's casual voice was in contrast to
his guarded eyes.

The judge looked pleased. "That one? Why, that's my own--was, at least,
half an hour ago. You see, about that twenty-thousand-dollar
proposition--" They moved nearer him. They stood, the four, around the
red velvet-covered table, like people waiting to be served. "The trouble
is right here," said the judge, emphasizing with blunt forefinger. "The
crook has a pal. That's probable, isn't it?"

Harry nodded. Flora felt Kerr's eyes upon her, but she could not look at
him.

"And we see the thing is at a deadlock, don't we? Well, now," the judge
went on triumphantly, "we know if any one person had the whole ring it
would be turned in by this time. That is the weak spot in the reward
policy. They didn't reckon on the thing's being split."

"Split? No, really, do you think that possible?" Kerr inquired, and
Flora caught a glimmer of irony in his voice.

"Well, can you see one of those chaps trusting the