somehow."

"You 're beginning excellently," I returned sincerely. "That's the way
to look at a thing of this kind. If you 'll not forget that I 'm
inclined to be kindly disposed toward you, why, I dare say we can,
between us, clear up whatever mystery there is in one-two-three order.

"For example, why you came here last night--your business with Mr.
Page--when you tell me that perhaps--"

I stopped. Maillot's face had suddenly become a mirror of
consternation.

"Good God, Swift!" he gasped, recoiling, "I--I can't do that!"

I promptly grew grave. And then, from the head of the stairs, came the
slow, colorless voice of Alexander Burke.

"How about the Paternoster ruby, Mr. Maillot?" inquired he.

Maillot's hands closed spasmodically; his teeth clicked together; and
he slewed round like a released spring.

Next instant, had it not been for the intervening stairs and Stodger's
and my quick interposition of our bodies between the two men, matters
certainly would have gone hard with the private secretary. Maillot's
temper was like gunpowder; the quiet question seemed to sting him to an
unreasonable fury.

"You--you spy! You dirty sneak!" he snarled viciously.

CHAPTER IV

THE RUBY

Unless I wanted affairs to get away from me entirely, it was high time
to assume complete control of them, and immediately to abandon all
temporizing measures.

I turned Maillot about without ceremony.

"Go with this man to the library, Stodger," I peremptorily directed.
"Burke, you come with me."

In the next ten seconds I had the big library table between the two,
Burke impassive, while Maillot glared at him savagely. I wanted to
give them time to cool--Maillot, at any rate; so I took advantage of
the opportunity to scribble a note to the Captain, hinting at the
complications promised by Felix Page's death, and requesting that I be
permitted to retain Stodger as an assistant--for I liked the stout,
cheerful man who was willing and quick to act upon no more than a hint,
and at the same time not disposed to interfere at all with my own modes
of procedure. This message I gave to him, requesting that he entrust
it to either Callahan or O'Brien for delivery. "Tell 'em to clear
out," I added; "I have no use for them here."

Then I thrust my hands into my coat pockets, and fell to pacing the
floor while I reflected. That is to say, I reflected after I had
secured a good, firm grasp upon the thoughts which skurried