whip in one hand and his gloves in the other: a
slight, cool, well-knit figure of low tones and half-lights.
"Have you had a quiet afternoon?"

"So-so," said Isabel, crimson.

"You look flushed, my darling," said Val tenderly. He sat down
at the foot of Isabel's Indian chair and laid a finger on her
wrist. "You don't feel feverish, do you?" The light click of the
wicket gate, which meant that Lawrence was safely off the
premises, enabled Isabel to say no with a sigh of relief. "It
must be the hot weather. Hallo! what have we here?"

He held up the gold cigarette case which had dropped from Hyde's
coat when he was lying on the grass.

"Some of Mrs. Bendish's property by the look of it," remarked
Val. "Diamonds, begad! I should have thought Yvonne had better
taste. But it must be hers, though the cipher doesn't seem to
have a B in it. I'll guarantee it isn't Rosy's." He slipped it
into his pocket. "I'll give it to Jack, I shall see him tonight
at the vestry-meeting."

"It belongs to Captain Hyde."

"How do you know?"

"He's been here this afternoon."

"How long did he stay?"

"What time is it?-- An hour and twenty minutes."

"What brought him?" said Val, bewildered.

Isabel was mute. . . "I don't know what you're talking about,
Isabel. Has he been with you all that time? Very stupid of him
when I particularly wanted you to have a quiet afternoon. When
did he go?"

"He has only just gone."

"Just gone? I never saw him."

"He went by the wicket gate."

"But I came in by the wicket gate myself!" said Val. His kind
serene eyes rested on his sister without a shadow of any thought
behind surprise.

"I left the mare with Rowsley in the village."

Isabel sat up suddenly and wound her arms round Val's neck. "I
sent him away when I heard you coming. He dodged you behind the
lilacs. I didn't want to tell you he'd been here. I never should
have told you if you hadn't found that case."

"You got rid of him-- This minute? Because I came--? Isabel!"
Stafford held her off. "It is not possible--! Listen to me: I
will have an answer. I know Hyde. Has he said anything to
offend you?"

"No! no! oh Val, don't be so angry!"

"Lucky for him," said Val, drawing a long breath and sitting down
again, his whip across his knee. "My dear little sister, you
mustn't make mysteries out of nothing at all! I'm sorry I
startled you, but you startled me: I didn't know what to make of
it. Hyde has no