"But I have no excuse," cried Hazlewood, and Mrs. Pettifer at last understood the plan which was in her husband's mind, which had been growing to completion since the night when he had dined at Little Beeding.
"Yes, you have an excuse," she cried, and Pettifer explained what it was.
"You collect miniatures. Some time ago you bought one of Marie Antoinette at Lord Mirliton's sale. You asked a question as to its authenticity in Notes and Queries. It was answered—"
Mr. Hazlewood broke in excitedly:
"By a man called Thresk. That is why the name was familiar to me. But I could not remember." He turned upon his sister. "It is your fault, Margaret. You took my copy of Notes and Queries away with you. Dick noticed it and told me."
"Dick!" Pettifer exclaimed in alarm. But the alarm passed. "He cannot have guessed why."
Mrs. Pettifer was clear upon the point.
"No. I took the magazine because of a remark which Robert made to you.
Dick did not hear it. No, he cannot have guessed why."
"For it's important he should have no suspicion whatever of what I propose that you should do, Hazlewood," Pettifer said gravely. "I propose that we should take a lesson from the legal processes of another country. It may work, it may not, but to my mind it is our only chance."
"Let me hear!" said Hazlewood.