r, Vera
Vallance with her aunt, Mrs. Mortimer, had been invited, much to Ray's
satisfaction.

Among the party was a well-known naval officer, captain of a first-class
cruiser, two military officers, and several smart women, for both Sir
Herbert and Lady Jocelyn moved in a very smart set. Several of the
ladies had joined us in the smoking-room for cigarettes, and the
conversation around the fire had been mainly the usual society chatter,
until at one o'clock every one had left for bed except our two selves.

Over the great fireplace were the arms of the Jocelyns carved in stone,
with the date 1573, and in the corner near the window was a stand of
armour upon which the dancing flames glinted ever and anon. Through the
long uncurtained window shone the bright moon from over the park, and
just as I reseated myself the stable clock chimed the half-hour.

We had been there four days, and the sport had been excellent. On the
previous day Ray had excused himself on account of the bad weather, and
had spent the hours mostly with Vera.

It was of how he had employed his time that he had been telling me when
I had discovered the eavesdropper.

"I wonder why our conversation should prove so interesting to that
maid?" he remarked thoughtfully, gazing into the fire. "She's rather
good-looking for a German, isn't she?"

"Yes," I said. "But who is this Mrs. Hill-Mason? She seems a rather loud
and buxom person, fond of the display of jewellery, dark, somewhat
oleaginous, and devoted to bridge."

"Harry says his mother met her in Cairo last winter. She's one of the
Somerset Masons--half-sister to the Countess of Thanet."

"Oh, she is known, then?"

"Of course. But we must get Vera to make some inquiry to-morrow as to
where she obtained her maid," declared Ray. "The woman is interested in
us, and we must discover the cause."

"Yes, I somehow mistrust her," I said. "I met her crossing the hall just
before dinner, and I detected a curious look in her eyes as she glanced
at me."

"Merely your fancy, Jack, old chap--because she's German," he laughed,
stretching his long legs.

"Well, what you were telling me about Vera and her discovery has alarmed
me," I said, tossing away the end of my cigar.

"Yes, she only returned last week from Emden, where she's been visiting
her old German governess, who, it seems, is now married to an official
in the construction department of the German Admiralty. From her friend
she was able to lea