Pippa waved her hand as it passed. The occupants of the car, a man and a woman, saw the child, and the gaiety of the sunshine being in their hearts they waved in response. The woman, who was swathed in a purple motor veil, waved an ungloved hand. Pippa saw the flash of diamonds on it. Also as she waved something fell, but the car rounded a bend in the lane and was out of sight almost before Pippa and Barnabas realized it.
Pippa scrambled over the gate. There was something lying in the dust, which she picked up. She came back slowly to Barnabas.
“Look,” she said, “what a queer, pretty ring.”
A ruby was set in it, on which was engraved a little figure of Eros holding a circle and trident. The stone and its setting was undoubtedly very ancient. The ring itself probably Georgian.
She held it out to Barnabas. He took it from her.
“Ah,” he said slowly, and he looked from it in the direction the car had vanished.
He had seen the ring before on the hand of Philippe Kostolitz.
“May I keep it?” asked Pippa.
“No, little thief,” said Barnabas. “The owner will miss it and perhaps come back for it. In any case we shall have to try and find out who she is, and return it.”
And he slipped the ring into his coat-pocket.