"So-so," said Isabel, crimson.
"You look flushed, my darling," said Val tenderly. He sat down at the foot of Isabel's Indian chair and laid a finger on her wrist. "You don't feel feverish, do you?" The light click of the wicket gate, which meant that Lawrence was safely off the premises, enabled Isabel to say no with a sigh of relief. "It must be the hot weather. Hallo! what have we here?"
He held up the gold cigarette case which had dropped from Hyde's coat when he was lying on the grass.
"Some of Mrs. Bendish's property by the look of it," remarked Val. "Diamonds, begad! I should have thought Yvonne had better taste. But it must be hers, though the cipher doesn't seem to have a B in it. I'll guarantee it isn't Rosy's." He slipped it into his pocket. "I'll give it to Jack, I shall see him tonight at the vestry-meeting."
"It belongs to Captain Hyde."
"How do you know?"
"He's been here this afternoon."
"How long did he stay?"
"What time is it?— An hour and twenty minutes."
"What brought him?" said Val, bewildered.