manages somehow to combine the best points of both colours.

"Ah, indeed?" said Miss Hugonin. Her tone imparted a surprising degree

of chilliness to this simple remark.

"No," she went on, very formally, "this is not a private room; you owe

me no apology for being here. Indeed, I am rather obliged to you, Mr.

Woods, for none of us knew of these secret drawers. Here is the key to

the central compartment, if you will be kind enough to point out the

other one. Dear, dear!" Margaret concluded, languidly, "all this is

quite like a third-rate melodrama. I haven't the least doubt you will

discover a will in there in your favour, and be reinstated as the