n't know.
Life and love are very complicated and confusing matters--especially
love.

I told Mr. Brace so. This was just as we were rising from the
luncheon-table. I said hurriedly: "I can't answer you. I really must
have more time to think it over."

His fair Puritan's face fell at this, and he looked at me reproachfully.

"More time?" he said discontentedly. "More time still?"

"Yes. I--I'm sure it's most important," I said earnestly. "Everybody
ought to have lots and lots of time to think it over before they dream
of getting engaged. I'm sure that's the right thing."

And then our party broke up, for Miss Vi Vassity was going on to a
theatrical garden fete to sell boxes of nougat with a signed photograph
of herself on the lid, and Mr. Hiram P. Jessop wanted to take his cousin
out into the park for a long talk about his aerial bomb-dropper, he
said, and Mr. Brace had to get back to the bank.

Miss Million said I could go out for a breath of air if I wanted, but I
had to return to Miss Million's rooms upstairs and to set things a
little bit in order there, as well as packing up for our next flight to
the "Refuge."

Perhaps the Honourable Jim may call and tell me how he got on with my
Aunt Anastasia?

No! There has been no sign of him all the afternoon. It has gone quietly
and slowly. My talkative friend, the telephone girl, threw me a smile
and a glance only a little sharper than usual as I crossed the hall. The
hurrying page-boys in brown, the porters look just the same as usual;
the coming and going of the American visitors is the same.

Life here in the big hotel seems resumed for me exactly where it was
broken off the day that Miss Million's disappearance coincided with the
disappearance of the celebrated Rattenheimer ruby. Ugh!... Except for my
ineffaceable memories of last night and this morning in the police-court
there's nothing to remind me that my mistress and I are still in that
horrible and extraordinary situation, "out on bail."

CHAPTER XXXI

MILLION BUCKS UP

MISS MILLION has returned, her troubles for the moment forgotten; her
small face rosy from the sunshine and the outdoor air; also as radiant
as if no Assizes loomed before us in a few weeks' time.

"You'll be glad to hear, Smith, that I've settled what to do about all
that fuss and botheration about the money," she told me as I knelt
beside her on the carpet, unfasteni