!"

Leaving Morland sitting under the elder bushes by the orchard gate,
Lorraine made her way into the garden, and, finding one of the numerous
little Castletons playing about, despatched her with a message to
Claudia. The latter came out at once, Lorraine explained hurriedly, and
the two girls, with some difficulty evading the curiosity of Beata,
Romola and Madox, whisked down a side path into the orchard, and joined
Morland. They held a very agitated council of three under the elder
bushes.

"Are you _certain_ the case isn't there?" urged Morland.

"Absolutely. I hunted for half an hour round the cave," declared
Claudia.

"Then who's taken it? If it's some chance tourist who's got it, it may
be returned."

Lorraine shook her head.

"I'm terribly afraid it's Madame Bertier. I believe she's mixed up in a
very queer piece of business here. I want to tell you what happened
yesterday."

As Lorraine recounted her adventures at St. Cyr, and the connection of
the foreigner, whom she had helped to identify, with the fascinating
Russian, Morland's face darkened.

"Great Heavens! Was the woman a spy after all?" he groaned. "It's the
limit! What an infernal ass I've been! If she's caught with those papers
on her, and they're traced to me, I'm done for--once and for all! Look
here, I'm going out to the cave to have one last hunt for the case. It
might have slipped behind something. Will you girls come with me?"

"What's the use? I know we shan't find it," said Claudia. "Besides, I
can't leave Landry. He's in bed, and very troublesome. He talks rubbish
the whole time, mostly about you, Morland! He keeps suddenly laughing
and saying he's stopped your going to the war, and isn't it clever of
him, but he gets angry if I ask how, and shouts out that it's his secret
and he won't tell me. Violet's fed up with him. I left her in his room,
but if I'm not quick back, she'll be sending one of the children to hunt
for me."

Morland rose hurriedly.

"I'd best scoot before the kids find me out. Lorraine, will you come?"

It seemed cruel to desert the poor boy at such a pinch, so Lorraine
consented, but by the time they had walked down the steep lane to
Pettington Church she changed her mind. At the lychgate she stopped.

"I'm so tired to-day, Morland! I don't think I _can_ trudge all that way
to Tangy Point! Time's important, and you'll walk so much faster without
me. You hurry on, and I'll wait for you here."

"Right oh! I'm