altogether. The
thing peeled off with difficulty; for it was a work of art, very firmly
and gracefully fastened with sticking-plaster. But it peeled off at
last--and with it the whole of the Count's and Dr. Fortescue-Langley's
distinction. The man stood revealed, a very palpable man-servant.

Lady Georgina stared hard at him. 'Where have I seen you before?' she
murmured, slowly. 'That face is familiar to me. Why, yes; you went once
to Italy as Mr. Marmaduke Ashurst's courier! I know you now. Your name
is Higginson.'

It was a come-down for the Comte de Laroche-sur-Loiret, but he swallowed
it like a man at a single gulp.

'Yes, my lady,' he said, fingering his hat nervously, now all was up.
'You are quite right, my lady. But what would you have me do? Times are
hard on us couriers. Nobody wants us now. I must take to what I can.' He
assumed once more the tone of the Vienna diplomat. '_Que voulez-vous_,
madame? These are revolutionary days. A man of intelligence must move
with the Zeitgeist!'

Lady Georgina burst into a loud laugh. 'And to think,' she cried, 'that
I talked to this lackey from London to Malines without ever suspecting
him! Higginson, you're a fraud--but you're a precious clever one.'

He bowed. 'I am happy to have merited Lady Georgina Fawley's
commendation,' he answered, with his palm on his heart, in his grandiose
manner.

'But I shall hand you over to the police all the same! You are a thief
and a swindler!'

He assumed a comic expression. 'Unhappily, not a thief,' he objected.
'This young lady prevented me from appropriating your diamonds.
_Convey_, the wise call it. I wanted to take your jewel-case--and she
put me off with a sandwich-tin. I wanted to make an honest penny out of
Mrs. Evelegh; and--she confronts me with your ladyship, and tears my
moustache off.'

Lady Georgina regarded him with a hesitating expression. 'But I shall
call the police,' she said, wavering visibly.

'_De grace_, my lady, _de grace_! Is it worth while, _pour si peu de
chose_? Consider, I have really effected nothing. Will you charge me
with having taken--in error--a small tin sandwich-case--value,
elevenpence? An affair of a week's imprisonment. That is positively all
you can bring up against me. And,' brightening up visibly, 'I have the
case still; I will return it to-morrow with pleasure to your ladyship!'

'But the india-rubber water-bottle?' I put in. 'You have been deceiving
Mrs. Evelegh. It blackens silve