“Have you heard about what happened at the villa the night we dined there?” persisted Bab.
“I have heard something about it,” admitted Marian, in a low voice. “It was an attempt to rob the countess, was it not?”
“You could hardly call it robbery,” replied Barbara. “The men took nothing. But they acted in a very mysterious manner, and there was one perfectly hideous old man who was a real burglar for I caught him going through the things in the countess’s sleeping room, when I went up stairs after our wraps. I drove him from the room.”
“How did you ever do it, Bab?” asked Marian. There was an expression of absolute terror in her eyes.
“You’ll laugh when I tell you,” replied Bab. “I drove him away with a shoe horn.”
“A shoe horn?” repeated Marian questioningly. “I don’t understand.”
“He thought from the way I held it that I had a revolver in my hand,” explained Barbara. “You see it was silver and as the light in the room was turned low it looked like polished steel. At any rate it answered the purpose.”
“You are very brave, Bab,” said Marian admiringly. “Considering the man with whom you had to deal you showed wonderful courage.”
“What do you mean, Marian, by ‘the man with whom I had to deal’? Who is that frightful old man?” asked Barbara, looking searchingly at the other girl. “Why did you warn us not to dine with the countess? Did you know what was to happen? You must tell me, Marian, for I must know. If the countess or any of us is in danger it is your duty to tell me. Can’t you trust me with your secret, Marian?”
Marian shook her head. Her lip quivered, and her eyes filled with tears.