“What do you say, Yootha?” he said at last, with a significant look which she understood. “Shall we go, or shan’t we?”
“I should like to go,” she replied, taking her cue from his expression. “Have you had lunch, Mr. La Planta?”
“In point of fact I have not,” he said carelessly, and lit a cigarette.
“Then you had better stay and lunch,” Preston put in. “Others may drop in presently.”
“Awfully good of you,” La Planta said quietly. “The second thing I want to ask is whether you happen to have seen Madame Camille Lenoir of the Metropolitan Secret Agency anywhere about to-day. I know she is here, with friends, and I want particularly to catch her.”
“I have not noticed her in any of the boats.”
Archie La Planta made a little gesture of annoyance.
“How tiresome,” he said. “Several people have caught sight of her to-day, but nobody can tell me where she is to be found. By the way, has the house with the bronze face found anything out as yet about the pearl necklace?”
“Nothing as yet, but they seem hopeful. They think that in a week or so they may be able to tell me something.”
“Good. Stothert is not an optimist, and would not have told you that unless he had good reason to.”