llows to kill
time any way they like until we return."

And the old sleuth started to lead me out of the room.

"She, did you say? Is one of the women servants guilty also?" queried
the Earl.

"Well, why not?" snapped Holmes. "I don't believe in this doctrine of
feminine impeccability. But don't try to spill the beans by getting me
to reveal my hand before I've played it now. Good-by, George."

We left the room, going upstairs to the second floor, where Holmes
tapped lightly on the door of the Countess's room.

CHAPTER XIII

"Come in," called the Countess.

We entered.

"Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit,
and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?"
she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs,
and laid down the French novel she had been reading.

"Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble
husband's cigars, Your Ladyship. It would greatly assist me in
clearing up the mystery of the robbery. Never mind the disguise. I've
worn worse," returned Holmes politely.

The Countess frowned.

"Why, have some of the Earl's cigars been stolen, too, as well as the
cuff-buttons?" she asked.

"No; but they have something to do with them, though. Now, when was
the last time that the Earl smoked a Pampango cigar, and where was he
at the time?"

"Those wretched things from the Philippines,--with the terrible odor?
He only smoked one this week, and that was Monday morning, just after
breakfast, in his room. I made Harrigan take the box of them away and
hide it, so he couldn't get any more."

"Ah," said Holmes, a smile gleaming on his eager face, "that was just
the time when some of the diamond cuff-buttons disappeared. Now, where
were you all during Monday morning?"

"Right here in my own room, of course, having Teresa arrange my hair.
I had breakfast served to me in here, and didn't go downstairs till
noontime."

"And when was the Earl's room swept out?" pursued Holmes.

"Really, Mr. Holmes, what funny questions you do ask!" said the
Countess, smiling. "The Earl's room was swept out about half-past
eleven that noon, as soon as I came down and ordered Natalie to do it,
after I saw the mess of cigar-ashes the Earl had left on the carpet."

"It's my business to ask funny questions, also to catch thieves, no
matter how highly placed in society they are," said Holmes, rising
from his chair. "Your Ladyship