“Morocco,” said the girl. “Sir John was born in Morocco and lived there until he went to school. He speaks Arabic like a native. Did you know that?”
“Morocco,” said Lady Maxell. “That’s strange. Morocco!”
“Do you know it?” asked the girl.
“I’ve been there—once,” replied the other shortly. “Did Sir John go often?”
“Before he married, yes,” said Mary. “He had large interests there at one time, I think.”
Sir John came back at that moment, and Mary noticed that his first glance was at the table.
“Well, they’ve found nothing,” he said, “neither footprints nor the empty shell. They’re making a search of the grounds to-morrow. Lebbitter wanted to post a man to protect the house in view of the other matter.”
“What other matter?” asked his wife quickly.
“It is nothing,” he said, “nothing really which concerns you. Of course, I would not allow the police to do that. It would make the house more conspicuous than it is at present.”
He looked at the two.