ce the invention of Lukos for a further test."

"A pretty hard one," he interposed.

"Pretty hard," she agreed, "but I meant to have the best. I tried the
tale on two or three men who seemed good sorts, during a period of three
months or so. They all failed for ... one reason or another. Then, by a
lucky chance, you came and succeeded. That's all."

"And Mizzi?"

"My faithful helper and plagiarist. She got bitten with the romantic
notion too, and set her lover a somewhat similar task. She invented the
burglary."

"Tony Wild?"

"Luck," she confessed. "I worked the broad outlines of the scheme, but
added to it as circumstances helped. The ambassador was an old friend,
and I used his presence here to give verisimilitude. He didn't know, of
course, and the day he caught you here I was afraid my schemes would be
blurted out by his calling me 'Miss Blair.' Luck helped me there."

"Hedderwick?"

"Sheer madness. I wanted a new adventure that night, and risked the
police court. I trusted to my wits to get us out if caught. If not,
well, 'the papers have been stolen!'"

"The dumb servants?"

"The gardener really is dumb. Forbes I gave five pounds a week to sham,
for safety's sake. I couldn't risk his talking in the village. I've only
had this house two months--I wanted it for perfect rest. I didn't come
down here every day--just when the mood took me. I used to motor up to
London at night, sometimes sending the car back empty (Forbes drove),
sometimes coming myself. When you were here I used to leave the car a
mile away and walk."

"Alone!"

"Oh, yes," she smiled. "I always carried the revolver for protection.
That was true in a sense. I was never interfered with, though I had some
trouble at times dodging Tony, Brown and Mr. Hedderwick. It was exciting
work."

He laughed, at her courage and his ignorance of her. She laughed gaily
in return.

"Is that enough?"

"Not quite," he demurred. "Why were you so angry with Mizzi that night
you caught us?"

She blushed.

"Ah! I am ashamed to tell you that. One day perhaps I shall ... not
now."

"I kissed her, you know," he said frankly. She sat up.

"When?"

"In London, the first night."

"Not since?"

"Never."

She sat down again.

"A proof of humanity," she smiled. "She's quite charming, I know. Is
that all?"

"Not yet. Wasn't it very hard to keep up the two roles?"

"Hard, but, not so very hard to a woman who has brains and is an
actress. It was i