"It was you who suggested the wager; I only accepted it."

"I know it."

"And once booked, no Englishman will welch, if he isn't a cad."

"I'm not thinking of welching. But I don't see what you get out of it."

"Sport. And a good hand at bridge."

"Remarkably good."

"I say, you don't mean to insinuate . . ."

"I'm not insinuating. I'm just damnably tired. Why the devil did you
take up that monocle business? You never wore one; and Miss Killigrew
found out this morning that it was an ordinary glass."

"She did?" Lord Monckton chuckled.

"And she laughed over it, too."

"Keen of her. But, what the devil! Stick a monocle in your eye, and
you don't need any letters of introduction. Lucky idea, your
telephoning me that you were here. What a frolic, all around!"

So that was why her coup had fallen flat? thought Kitty.

"I'll tell you this much," said Thomas. (Kitty heard him tap his pipe
against the veranda railing.) "Play fair or, by the lord, I'll smash
you! I'm going to stick to my end of the bargain, and see that you
walk straight with yours."

"I see what's worrying you. Clear your mind. I would not marry the
richest, handsomest woman in all the world, Thomas. There's a dead
heart inside of me."

"There's another thing. I'd get rid of that valet."

"Why?"--quickly.

"He's too bally soft on his feet to my liking. I don't like him."

"Neither do I, Thomas!" murmured Kitty, forgetting all about her
hunger. Not a word about her sapphires, though. Did she see but the
surface of things? Was there something deeper?

She stole back up-stairs. As she reached the upper landing, some one
brushed past her, swiftly, noiselessly. With the rush of air which
followed the prowler's wake came a peculiar sickish odor. She waited
for a while. But there was no sound in all the great house.

CHAPTER XX

"The Carew cottage was entered last night," said Killigrew, "and twenty
thousand in diamonds are gone. Getting uncomfortably close. You and
your mother, Kitty, had better let me take your jewels into town
to-day."

"We have nothing out here but trinkets."

"Trinkets! Do you call that fire-opal a trinket? Better let me take
it into town, anyway. I'm Irish enough to be superstitious about
opals."

"That's nonsense."

"Maybe."

"Oh, well; if the thought of having it around makes you nervous, I'll
give it to you. The Crawfords and Mr. Forbes are coming down this
afternoon.