st irresistible--and he knew it and laughed in my face!... And
that's the true reason why I didn't accuse him when I was charged with
the theft of the necklace--because I couldn't prove anything and a
trumped-up accusation that fell through would only make my case the
worse in Nelly's sight.... But I'll get him yet!"

"Have you thought of going to Hartford?"

"I'm no such fool. If that letter was posted in Hartford this morning,
it means that Ismay's in Philadelphia."

"But isn't he wise enough to know you'd think just that?"

Iff sat up with a flush of excitement. "By George!" he cried--"there's
something in that!"

"It's a chance," said Staff thoughtfully.

The little man jumped up and began to pace the floor. To and fro, from
the hall-door to the windows, he strode. At perhaps the seventh turn at
the windows he paused, looking out, then moved quickly back to Staff's
side.

"Taxicab stopping outside," he said in a low voice: "woman getting
out--Miss Landis, I think. If you don't mind, I'll dodge into your
bedroom."

"By all means," assented his host, rising.

Iff swung out of sight into the back room as Staff went to and opened
the hall-door.

Alison had just gained the head of the stairs. She came to the study
door, moving with her indolent grace, acknowledging his greeting with an
insolent, cool nod.

"Not too late, I trust?" she said enigmatically.

"For what?" asked Staff, puzzled.

"For this appointment," she said, extending a folded bit of paper.

"Appointment?" he repeated with the rising inflection, taking the paper.

"It was delivered at my hotel half an hour ago," she told him. "I
presumed you ..."

"No," said Staff. "Half a minute...."

He shut the door and unfolded the note. The paper and the chirography,
he noticed, were identical with those of the note received by Iff from
Hartford. With this settled to his satisfaction, he read the contents
aloud, raising his voice a trifle for the benefit of the listener in the
back room.

"'If Miss Landis wishes to arrange for the return of the
Cadogan collar, will she be kind enough to call at Mr. Staff's
rooms in Thirtieth Street at a quarter to ten tonight.

"'N. B.--Any attempt to bring the police or private detectives
or other outsiders into the negotiations will be instantly
known to the writer and--there won't be any party.'"

"Unsigned," said Staff reflectively.

"Well?" demanded Alison, seating herself