Page:Knaves of Diamonds.pdf/249

230 —one of our lady officers, I am sure you will find that she will perform her not very agreeable task with as much consideration and dispatch as is consistent with her duties."

Miss Billing got up and bowed too, and began to take her gloves off. Mrs. Herman and Miss Schamyl looked uncomfortable but defiant, and the inspector and his lieutenant bowed themselves discreetly out of the room.

Miss Billing seemed to do her work fairly thoroughly, for she took the better part of an hour and a half about it, and when at last she left the two ladies, flushed and indignant, but triumphant withal, she said to the inspector:

"It's no use, sir. I'm afraid they've been too smart for us. I haven't left a possible hole or corner unsearched, and there isn't the trace of a stone about the place."

Mr. Lipinzki's face darkened perceptibly as he heard this. It was rather a serious