At the eleven o'clock interval, Claudia walked into the cloak-room. Lorraine, who had come for her packet of lunch, greeted her with surprised enthusiasm.
"Here you are at last! Why are you so late? I've simply loads to tell you! Do you know that Madame Bertier's never turned up to-day?"
"Hasn't she?" said Claudia abstractedly. "I've loads to tell you too, Lorraine. Come into the garden; I don't want anyone to overhear."
When they were out of reach of the ears of prying juniors, Claudia continued:
"I'm in dreadful trouble; that's why I'm so late. Everything's gone wrong. Yesterday afternoon I had a telegram from Morland: 'Take parcel immediately to the George'."
"That case that the officer lost? I always thought Morland ought to have given it back to him at once. Well! Did you go to the cave and fetch it?"
"I went," said Claudia slowly, "but, when I looked in the little cupboard, it wasn't there."
"Not there!" Lorraine's tone was horror-stricken.
"No. I hunted all round the cave, but it had gone, absolutely."
"Great Scott! What are we to do?"