e　once　more　the　discreet　cough　which　was　apparently　part　of　her　stock…in…trade　as　a　lady's　maid。　This　time　it　expressed　a　good　deal。　It　expressed　far　more　clearly　than　words　could　have　done；　that　Mason's　mistress　had　been　a　lady　who　took　her　own　way。

〃Ruth　must　have　been　mad；〃　muttered　Van　Aldin。　〃What　on　earth　could　have　possessed　her？〃

M。　Carrege　in　turn　gave　vent　to　a　cough；　again　a　cough　of　significance。　It　riveted　Van　Aldin's　attention　on　him。

〃For　the　moment；〃　said　M。　Carrege；　addressing　Mason；　〃I　think　that　is　all。　If　you　will　go　into　the　next　room；　Mademoiselle；　they　will　read　over　to　you　the　questions　and　answers；　and　you　will　sign　accordingly。〃

Mason　went　out　escorted　by　the　clerk；　and　Van　Aldin　said　immediately　to　the　Magistrate：

〃Well？〃

M。　Carrege　opened　a　drawer　in　his　desk；　took　out　a　letter；　and　handed　it　across　to　Van　Aldin。

〃This　was　found　in　Madame's　handbag。〃

〃Chère　amie〃　（the　letter　ran）；

〃I　will　obey　you；　I　will　be　prudent；　discreet　…　all　those　things　that　a　lover　most　hates。　Paris　would　perhaps　have　been　unwise；　but　the　Isles　d'Or　are　far　away　from　the　world；　and　you　may　be　assured　that　nothing　will　leak　out。　It　is　like　you　and　your　divine　sympathy　to　be　so　interested　in　the　work　on　famous　jewels　that　I　am　writing。　It　will；　indeed；　be　an　extraordinary　privilege　to　actually　see　and　handle　these　historic　rubies。　I　am　devoting　a　special　passage　to　'Heart　of　Fire。'　My　wonderful　one！　Soon　I　will　make　up　to　you　for　all　those　sad　years　of　separation　and　emptiness。

〃Your　ever…adoring；

〃Armand。〃

Chapter　15

THE　TE　DE　LA　ROCHE

Van　Aldin　read　the　letter　through　in　silence。　His　face　turned　a　dull　angry　crimson。　The　men　watching　him　saw　the　veins　start　out　on　his　fo