“At first I paid no attention to the few words I caught; but finally I heard a woman’s voice say: ‘Indeed, Count, I will not agree....’
“‘You must. If you do not, disaster will overtake you. Be warned in time.’
“His voice was so threatening that I involuntarily turned to interrupt them just as Mrs. Trevor parted the curtains and walked out. Until then I had not known for certain who they were. They spoke in French. From that moment Mrs. Trevor won my admiration. There was no trace of excitement or embarrassment in her manner. Jove! she carried off the situation with a high hand, and de Morny followed her lead.”
“Probably they didn’t know they had been overheard,” suggested Dick.
“That must have been it,” answered Tom. “Come to think of it, the last time I saw Mrs. Trevor was on Wednesday about noon. She was sitting in her limousine in front of de Morny’s small house on K Street.”
“Considering their dislike was mutual, it’s strange she should drive up to his door. Was the Attorney General with her?”
“No, she was alone; probably she stopped to leave a note. They played auction a great deal. De Morny told me the other day, though, that he would have to give up playing as his losses had been very heavy this winter. Here’s Galt’s, come on in.”
It did not take Tom long to select a present. He picked out an after-dinner coffee service, and gave directions as to its marking and delivery. Dick glanced impatiently at the clock. He had barely time to keep his appointment if he left at once. As he turned to speak to Tom he heard a man standing next him say:
“My mastaire wishes it repaired and returned at once, Monsieur.”
Dick’s eyes traveled over the speaker, obviously by the cut of his clothes a foreigner, then on to the piece of jewelry which the man laid on the counter as he spoke. It was a long, heavily linked, red-gold watch chain. Dick waited for the valet to go before addressing the clerk, who had often waited on him.