ulating how far the joyous girl who had confided her heart to his
keeping would fit in with the scheme of things. He roused himself with
an effort and glanced at his watch. It was half-past nine.

"You make a mistake, Fairfield," he laughed. "Eileen and I fit each
other, and you'll see we'll settle down all right. Care to see the
present I'm giving her to-morrow? It's to be a little surprise. Look
here!"

He inserted a hand in his breast pocket and produced a flat case of blue
Morocco leather. He touched a spring: "There!"

Soft, shimmering white against the sombre velvet lining reposed a string
of pearls which even the untrained eye of Fairfield knew must be of
enormous value. Each gem was perfect in its soft purity, and they had
been matched with scrupulous care. Grell picked it up and dangled it on
his forefinger, so that the crimson glow of the shaded electric lights
was reflected in the smooth surface of the jewels.

"Pretty toy, isn't it?" he commented. "I gave Streeters _carte blanche_
to do the best they could."

He dropped the necklace carelessly back in its case, snapped the catch,
and placed it in his pocket. Fairfield's jerk of the head was
significant.

"And you are fool enough to carry the thing around loose in your pocket.
Good heavens, man! Do you know that there are people who would not stick
at murder to get a thing like that?"

The other laughed easily. "Don't you worry, Fairfield. You're the only
person I've shown it to, and I'm not afraid you'll sandbag me." He
changed the subject abruptly. "By the way, I've got an engagement I want
to keep. Do you mind answering the telephone if I'm rung up by any one?
Say I'm here, but I'm frightfully busy clearing up some business
matters, will you?"

The baronet frowned half in perplexity, half in protest. "Why--forgive
me, Bob--why not say that you are gone out to keep an appointment?"

Grell was plainly a little embarrassed, but he strove to disguise the
fact. "Oh, it's only a fancy of mine," he retorted lightly. "I shan't be
gone long. You'll do it, won't you?"

"Of course," agreed Sir Ralph, still frowning.

"That's all right, then. Thanks. I'll be back in half an hour."

He strode away with an abrupt nod. Shortly afterwards Fairfield heard a
taxicab scurry away down the sodden street. He leaned back in his chair
and puffed a cloud of smoke towards the ceiling. There was a dim
uneasiness in his mind, though he could have given no reason for it.