of the hall, library, billiard-room, but finding them deserted, at last went slowly up to his own room and remained there for an hour or more. Then he came down and spent the remainder of the afternoon walking thoughtfully about the grounds, smoking innumerable cigarettes. If the object of his early return was another interview with Miss Croydon, as one would naturally suppose, he was disappointed in it, for she, knowing perhaps that he had come back alone, did not leave her apartments.
Delroy and Drysdale returned together on the five-o’clock train, and hurried into the house. They found Tremaine lounging in a great chair in the hall, and if the glance which Drysdale shot at him was electric with suspicion, he had at least self-control enough to restrain any ill-considered or hasty words. But he blamed himself bitterly for not having foreseen the possibility of Tremaine’s early return, the reason for which he guessed at once.
“We’ve just time to make the arrangements before dinner,” said Delroy, and he held up a long morocco case.
“Ah,” and Tremaine rose lazily, “so you’ve brought it? Tiffany advises it, then?”
“Yes—but come into the library and you shall hear. Thomas, ask Mrs. Delroy and Miss Croydon if they will come down to the library for a moment. I want to get the stones in the water at once.”
Drysdale, looking at Tremaine, thought he perceived a sudden flash of triumph in his face, but it was instantly repressed and may have been only fancy. The women joined them in the library almost im-
