of my room for the purpose."

"Excellent!" Field said. "Nothing could be better. Beyond the shadow of
a doubt these people are at the bottom of the whole business. Did you
frighten the lady, Miss?"

"Not in the least," Beatrice replied. "I was particularly careful not to
arouse suspicions that I had noticed anything out of the common. But I
knew perfectly well that I was just in time to save my diamonds.
However, that has nothing to do with the question. The Countess came
back very late, under the pretence that she required my services as her
maid. She managed to drug me with some very powerful scent, I presume,
with a view of using my room whilst I was unconscious, if any hitch took
place. But you may be sure that these people are under the impression
that nobody could possibly identify them with the outrage. There will
not be any great difficulty in tracing them."

"Thanks to your skill and courage," Field said admiringly. "We can do
nothing further till we hear from the night porter and his colleague. I
will make a few inquiries in the hotel, and I shall be very glad, Miss,
if you will write down for me as clear and as accurate a description as
possible of the General and the Countess."

A little time later Beatrice found herself alone with Mark. Colonel
Berrington was waiting down in the hall. Mark looked tenderly into
Beatrice's pallid, beautiful face, and he gently stroked her head.

"This is a very dreadful business for you, darling," he said. "Your
courage----"

"My courage can stand any strain so long as I know that I am free of my
husband," the girl said. "When I think of my troubles, and they begin to
overcome me, I always go back to that reflection. It seems to lift me up
and strengthen me. Mark, I believe I should have died, or killed myself,
had I been compelled to be with that man."

"You have not seen any more of him, I suppose?" Mark asked.

"Last night," Beatrice whispered. "Mark, I did not tell the detective
one thing--I felt that I really could not. I spoke of the man who was
closeted in my room with the Countess. I said I would recognize him
again. It was my husband, Stephen Richford."

Mark's face expressed his amazement. Before he could reply the door
opened and Inspector Field came in again. His face was grave and stern.

"This is a fouler business than ever I imagined," he said. "Both hall
porter and night watchman are missing. Neither has been seen at their
lodgings since they left