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was by this time almost three o'clock, so I went immediately down to John's house. As I was waiting in the ante-chambre for the maître d'hôtel to announce me, Miss Dalghren came out of the library. I bowed and she gave me a cold nod.

"You will be glad to learn, Miss Dalghren," said I, "that I have recovered Mrs. Cuttynge's pearls. They are in my pocket."

The colour flamed in her face.

"I thought that you would," she answered.

"Permit me to suggest," said I, "that hereafter both of you ladies keep your jewels in a safe place—where they will not be a temptation to weak vessels like myself."

Her face hardened. "Mine are now in the safe deposit," says she, "and there is no doubt that John will do the same with Edith's," and without so much as a nod she passed on through the dining-room portières.

The maître d'hôtel returned at this moment to ask me to go right up. I found John in bed. He looked very badly.

"Shut the door and lock it, Frank," said he, in a querulous voice. "Pull up a chair by the bed. I want to talk to you."

I did as he directed. As soon as I was seated John turned to me, raising himself on one elbow. 160