H. B. Marriott Watson

“ Miss Harvey's handsome face was rosy bright. "I should love just to be in something exciting like that," she declared unscrupulously.
"Have you any theory, Mr. Brabazon?" asked Perdita.
I shook my head sadly. "None whatever. The facts are more or less plain. Burglarious attempts have been made on the house, with, I assume, the jewels in view. And it would seem as if the gang are watching the Castle. That's all I know."
"But surely you will get the police in," panted Miss Fuller. ”

“ And if after my confession you will deign to take tea with me at the Castle, I will unfold that story. I think, on the whole, it is really worth hearing. Of course it would be more worth hearing, if you were still in it."
Perdita looked at Miss Fuller perplexedly, and Miss Fuller's eyes signalled back something. Then her charming smile captured Perdita's face.
"This may be a trap," she said, "to catch us, or to make us commit ourselves."
"On my honor," I assured her, "there will be no one present save myself and Jackman, my servant—at least that I know of. I can't answer for the spies." ”

“ But unfortunately for those whose company he admires, they obsess him."
Perdita bit her lip, as if she would thus refrain from laughter. Miss Fuller looked more puzzled than ever.
"How strange!" she said most civilly, but most blankly.
We reached the bottom of the lane where the village opens out, and Perdita broke her long silence.
"There it is," she said.
I looked, and on the village green was a motor-car. Harvey! Harvey! The name suddenly rang in my memory. Of course I recalled her now. It was the name of my American, and here was her car. ”

“ Miss Fuller looked dubious. "I—I don't think we ought to do that," she said.
I looked at Perdita.
"And I think we ought to be going," she said, rising cheerfully to her feet.
It was the signal. My guests rose; but at the door Miss Harvey whispered into my ear:
"He's a most delightful character, Mr. Toosey. Don't you go off with any fancies about him. I believe he's a genius. I'm going to get papa to buy some of his pictures."
The evening fell as they went, with Mr. Toosey between two girls in the rear of the car. Jackman was laying my dinner when I went in. ”

“ I went on, launching myself, "I want you to make my peace with Miss Forrest."
"Forrest!" she echoed blankly.
"Yes, your friend, Miss Forrest," I said.
"Oh, yes," she said quickly. "You mean Miss Forrest," and displayed signs of agitation out of keeping with the circumstances.
"The fact is," I continued manfully, "I have done her a grievous injustice. I thought she was a burglar."
"A burglar!" exclaimed Miss Fuller on a high crescendo, opening her wide eyes wider. "Good gracious! ”

“ Toosey was obviously enjoying himself, though he shifted about like an uncomfortable schoolboy when I entered. He had a large piece of cake which he ate with some noise, in his hand, and, balanced in the other, was a drunken cup of tea. So far as I could make out, he was explaining why life would be better for all of us if we lived in caves and wore little or nothing. Neither Miss Harvey, nor Perdita, nor even Miss Fuller, turned a hair ”

“ Commission! Did any one pine to reduplicate the modest gallery of Norroy Castle? The man was a fool. I left him to his work and went out into the sunlight. In that divine air suspicions melted from me like morning rime, and of a sudden I experienced poignant remorse. Why had I suspected Miss Forrest? Madness could no farther go. I strode out, on the impulse of the moment, towards the gates, designing to go to the village, but when I reached the limit of my domain I was checked. I had no earthly reason for intruding on the ladies ”

“ Hastily she thrust her dress lower about her feet as we emerged, and her face flushed delicately pink for a moment. I saluted submissively, while, the color slowly passing, she surveyed us with speculative eyes. ”

“ He recognized me when he got to his feet, threw me a perfunctory nod, and turned his gaze straight on Miss Harvey.
"I'd have done it sooner, if the oil had n't dropped in my eye," he said. "Half a dollar, was n't it?" He held out his hand bluntly, and Miss Harvey, full of laughter, took a two-shilling piece from her purse and put it in his palm. I scornfully expected him to touch his cap, but he did n't.
"Knew I could do it," he said cheerfully, putting the coin in his pocket. "There is n't much in this car business. ”