H. B. Marriott Watson

“ Silence had reigned long at Lowbottom, and the moon was out in the west, floating aslant of the huge pile. The shafts struck through the long windows in the western gallery, and lighted both Miss Rayne and her follower on their way. The tide of brightness flowed over the balustrade, and down the staircase into the corridor beneath. They passed, the one unconscious, and the other, now for the first time beginning to have qualms of conscience, through a sequence of rooms to the threshold of the treasure chamber. In his new mood of doubt, Charmian did not recognise this. ”

“ In their passage to the western gardens next morning Lord Francis and Miss Rayne went through the treasure chamber. The former pulled up before the case.
"How about that ruby?" he asked facetiously. It seemed to him that a slight colour flowed into her face. "Now's our time," he went on, jocularly grave, and seizing the steel screen in one hand pulled at it. The curtain rose noiselessly and vanished into the oak.
"Good Lord!" cried Lord Francis; and Miss Rayne's face had lost its change of colour. He looked at her in mock distress. "Where are we now?" he said. "Fate is surely with us!" ”

“ The jewels drew the eyes of the women, and notably one,—"A celebrated ruby once in possession of the King of Burmah," explained the complacent voice of Sir Edward. It was an admirable collection, but it bored Lord Francis, who was next to Miss Rayne when the screen rolled back into its place. When she turned round and saw him, her eyes sparkled and her breath sounded audible between her lips.
"Wasn't it lovely?" she cried.
Charmian admitted it, and wondered, as so many men have wondered since the twilight of unconscious Time, why stones should have this peculiar effect on women. ”

“ Miss Rayne's face hardened. "Indeed!" she said coldly.
"Yes," pursued Lord Francis; "you see, although you are not .... although, of course, there is the Venus of Milo and the Aphrodite of Praxiteles, and so forth, still you are certainly an attractive woman——"
"It is good of you to say so," said Miss Rayne, with restrained fury, and crimson of cheek.
"Not at all," said Charmian airily. "It's certainly a great privilege to be able to speak the truth. ”

“ One feels that one needn't adopt those silly artifices which are the common property of society. It's a comfort and a privilege to be natural, and to speak as human being to human being."
No young woman has a highly developed sense of humour, and Eleanor Rayne scrutinised carefully his earnest face.
"Yes," she agreed feebly.
"Now, if I were you," said Lord Francis cheerfully, and confidentially, "I wouldn't give too much encouragement to Sir Percy." ”

“ Miss Rayne was charged abruptly with a slight colour. "Did you notice that? I—I was afraid it was too striking," she said; "but I had an idea, and—and——"
"Striking!" echoed Charmian,—"of course it's striking. Most women seem to want to dress so as to appear like some one else. You, my dear Miss Rayne, I am glad to see, dress like yourself and to suit yourself—and me, if you will permit the association." ”

“ That's why they give no one credit for honesty. I shouldn't be surprised ... well, I don't want to say anything, Lady Quilton, but I should like to know the real history of some of these." He waved a hand at the wall.
"Good heavens, Lord Francis! you don't surely insinuate——" began Lady Quilton in alarm.
"I insinuate nothing, my dear lady," said Charmian promptly; "but I should like to know. How, for example, did that ruby get here?"
He looked significantly from one to the other, and a smile flickered in Miss Rayne's face. ”

“ But he was very eager in his new rôle and naturally sought Miss Rayne as what he called "the associate and partner of my guilt."
Miss Rayne heard him out, and was silent a little; then, without turning her glance to him, she asked: "And are you really going to try and discover the thief?"
"Of course," he answered. "Don't you see, my professional reputation is at stake? Besides, it will draw off suspicion from you and me."
But Miss Rayne looked serious and pallid, and replied absently to his remarks. ”

“ Lord Francis, as a matter of fact, drifted to Lowbottom not because of cook or wine or jewels, but merely because Town had grown very dull, and the weather abroad was reported to be abominable. Pretty women were amusing, but pretty women at Lowbottom were usually too much of one type. Yet in the first hour of his visit he thought he detected possibilities. It was Miss Rayne who provoked him to curiosity, and upon Miss Rayne, he concentrated his attentions. ”

“ He told her his news, and saw Miss Rayne start.
"I really don't mind if she is a thief," he said to himself. "She's stolen a good deal more than jewels from—many men," he finished his thought.
Miss Rayne thanked him, but in icy terms failed to understand why the information was brought to her.
"Oh!" said Charmian, taken aback. "I thought you would be interested to know that it's taken out of my hands."
Eleanor Rayne looked at him swiftly. Was it possible that he suspected? "Indeed!" she said, still bravely cold, and turned away.
She went straight to Lady Quilton. ”

“ Lord Francis was exceedingly quick at a point. He abandoned his defences, surrendered the outworks, and smilingly came to terms.
"It is perfectly true, Miss Rayne," he confessed; "but do you know, the world is so utterly full of silly people that one gets into a habit. ”

“ He would have found amusement in the dullest company somehow; but he would find more than amusement here. He pitted himself in conflict against that beautiful woman, with her large ways and grave independence ”

“ There is a difference, you must remember, between handsome and beautiful. One is a comparative only. There are many people who are handsome, even here," he added, with a reflective and critical look at Miss Rayne ”

“ It was just before lunch that he met Sir Edward, who beckoned him aside.
"I'm much troubled about that ruby, Charmian," he said. "You're the only person who knows. I've decided, after all, to have a detective in, and he's coming to-night. You see," he spoke apologetically, "I don't know it was a guest, and, after all, by Jove, if it was, I think I ought to know who."
Charmian was forced to agree with him reluctantly, and ate his meal in bad spirits. Shortly afterwards he forced his way into Miss Rayne's presence. She was with Mrs. ”