"Naturally!"
"See, then, how diplomacy or secret service work, or whatever you like to call it, can gather the ends of the world together! Only a quarter of an hour ago that Japanese valet of my brother's, having searched my rooms in vain, demanded from me that formula!"
"From you?" Lutchester gasped. "But you haven't got it!"
"Of course not. On the other hand Sunyea pitched upon me as being one of the possible thieves, and cabled his instructions over."
"Have you got it?" he asked abruptly.
"If I had," she smiled, "I should not tell you."
"But come," he expostulated, "the thing's no use to you."
"So Baron Sunyea evidently thought," she laughed. "We'll leave that, if you don't mind."
Lutchester was still looking a little bewildered.
"I had an idea when I came in," he muttered, "that things were a little scrappy between you and the Japanese gentleman."