is down here on purpose. And I heard Lord
Amersteth tell papa that they had been seen this afternoon at Warbeck
Junction!"

The very place where Raffles and I had been caught in the rain! Our
stampede from the inn was now explained; on the other hand, I was no
longer to be taken by surprise by anything that my companion might have
to tell me; and I succeeded in looking her in the face with a smile.

"This is really quite exciting, Miss Melhuish," said I. "May I ask how
you come to know so much about it?"

"It's papa," was the confidential reply. "Lord Amersteth consulted
him, and he consulted me. But for goodness' sake don't let it get
about! I can't think WHAT tempted me to tell you!"

"You may trust me, Miss Melhuish. But--aren't you frightened?"

Miss Melhuish giggled.

"Not a bit! They won't come to the rectory. There's nothing for them
there. But look round the table: look at the diamonds: look at old
Lady Melrose's necklace alone!"

The Dowager Marchioness of Melrose was one of the few persons whom it
had been unnecessary to point out to me. She sat on Lord Amersteth's
right, flourishing her ear-trumpet, and drinking champagne with her
usual notorious freedom, as dissipated and kindly a dame as the world
has ever seen. It was a necklace of diamonds and sapphires that rose
and fell about her ample neck.

"They say it's worth five thousand pounds at least," continued my
companion. "Lady Margaret told me so this morning (that's Lady
Margaret next your Mr. Raffles, you know); and the old dear WILL wear
them every night. Think what a haul they would be! No; we don't feel
in immediate danger at the rectory."

When the ladies rose, Miss Melhuish bound me to fresh vows of secrecy;
and left me, I should think, with some remorse for her indiscretion,
but more satisfaction at the importance which it had undoubtedly given
her in my eyes. The opinion may smack of vanity, though, in reality,
the very springs of conversation reside in that same human, universal
itch to thrill the auditor. The peculiarity of Miss Melhuish was that
she must be thrilling at all costs. And thrilling she had surely been.

I spare you my feelings of the next two hours. I tried hard to get a
word with Raffles, but again and again I failed. In the dining-room he
and Crowley lit their cigarettes with the same match, and had their
heads together all the time. In the drawing-room I had the
mortification of hearing him talk in