“I have it,” she said eagerly; “we must use his own methods. We must decoy him into an ambush.”
“Of course,” I retorted with a shrug; “but how, madame?”
“Wait but a moment,” she replied quickly, “and I will show you the way;” and she hurried from the room, her face flushed with excitement.
I looked after her in surprise. “I cannot see the way so easily,” I said.
“Madame will show us,” the Swede replied calmly; “a woman’s wit has often cut the knot when all else failed.”
“I trust that it will be so in this case,” I said, although I could not imagine what was my wife’s plan.
In a moment she came back with something in her hand.
“Behold the key to the difficulty,” she said triumphantly, holding out a bit of pale blue ribbon.
I stared at the ribbon and at her in silence, and, seeing my bewilderment, she laughed merrily.
“You grow dull, Philippe,” she said chidingly; “it is mademoiselle’s favorite color. It fell from her robe upon my floor, and I saved it with some inspiration that it would serve a good turn. Send it to M. Apraxin with a message. They know not yet where to find Najine, and are eager for tidings. Trust me, he will fall into the snare as easily as did M. de Lambert.”