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 tempting. He stepped to the door, and found Prince in the great entrance-hall.

“That man who called himself a detective has gone?” he inquired. “You are sure there is no mistake about it? You showed him to the door yourself, and saw him out?”

“And secured the door immediately afterwards, your Grace. Mr. Forsyth will bear me out in that; I had to withdraw the bolts to admit him.”

Beaumanoir returned to the drawing-room.

“You are both very good, and I will stay for to-night only,” he assented. “I wish I could make the explanation I owe you, but—well, I am the victim of circumstances.”

“The explanation will keep,” said Forsyth, bluntly. “May I stay too?”

The permission was, of course, accorded, and Sybil bade them good-night and retired to her room, giving orders on the way for two adjoining bedrooms to be prepared for them. The two men went into the smoking-room for a whisky and cigarette while the rooms were being got ready; but each with tacit consent avoided the topic of the moment. The one idea in Alec’s mind was to let Beaumanoir