"Truly?"
"As I am telling you. But for them, their charming hospitality in inviting me to cruise aboard their yacht, but for the assistance they lent me, though sometimes unconsciously, I admit--I should never have been able to say to you to-day: Your jewels are in a safe place, madame, immediately at your disposal."
"But how can I thank them?"
"Well," said Lanyard, "if you ask me, I think we have detained them long enough, I believe they would be most grateful to be permitted to leave and keep their numerous and pressing appointments elsewhere."
"I am entirely of your mind, monsieur."
Lanyard nodded to the man in the doorway--"All right, Mr. Murray"--and he stood indifferently aside.
In silence the three men moved to the door and out, Phinuit with a brazen swagger, Jules without emotion visible, Monk with eyebrows adroop and flapping.
But Lanyard interposed when Liane Delorme would have followed.
"A moment, Liane, if you will be so good."
She paused, regarding him with a sombre and inscrutable face while he produced from his coat-pocket a fat envelope without endorsement.