A few moments later we were shown into a charmingly intimate
little boudoir in which Lady Ireton was waiting to receive us.
She was a strikingly handsome brunette, but to-night her face,
which normally, I think, possessed rich colouring, was almost
pallid, and there was a hunted look in her dark eyes which made
me wish to be anywhere rather than where I found myself. Without
preamble she rose and addressed Harley:
"I fail to understand your message, sir," she said, and I admired
the imperious courage with which she faced him. "You say you
have recovered a handbag which I had lost?"
Harley bowed, and from the pocket of his greatcoat took out a
silken-tasselled bag.
"The one which you left in the Cafe Dame, Lady Ireton," he
replied. "Here also I have"--from another pocket he drew out a
diamond ring--"something which was extorted from you by the
fellow Meyer."
Without touching her recovered property, Lady Ireton sank slowly
down into the chair from which she had arisen, her gaze fixed as
if hypnotically upon the speaker.
"My friend, Mr. Knox, is aware of all the circumstances,"
continued the latter, "but he is as anxious as I am to terminate
this painful interview. I surmise that what occurred on
Wednesday night was this--(correct me if I am wrong): While
dining with Mr.
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