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followed Colonel Kingston Bruce, still growling into his moustache about the pestilential impudence of some people, into a massive dining-room where the family was already assembled. Only one person present was unknown to Tuppence.
    ‘This, Lady Laura, is Miss Robinson, who is kindly assisting us.’
    Lady Laura bent her head, and then proceeded to stare at Tuppence through her pince-nez. She was a tall, thin woman, with a sad smile, a gentle voice, and very hard shrewd eyes. Tuppence returned her stare, and Lady Laura’s eyes dropped.
    After lunch Lady Laura entered into conversation with an air of gentle curiosity. How was the inquiry proceeding? Tuppence laid suitable stress on the suspicion attaching to the parlourmaid, but her mind was not really on Lady Laura. Lady Laura might conceal teaspoons and other articles in her clothing, but Tuppence felt fairly sure that she had not taken the pink pearl.
    Presently Tuppence proceeded with her search of the house. Time was going on. There was no sign of Tommy, and, what mattered far more to Tuppence, there was no sign of Mr Rennie. Suddenly Tuppence came out of a bedroom and collided with Beatrice Kingston Bruce, who was going downstairs. She was fully dressed for the street.
    ‘I’m afraid,’ said Tuppence, ‘that you mustn’t go out just now.’
    The other girl looked at her haughtily.
    ‘Whether I go out or not is no business of yours,’ she said coldly.
    ‘It is my business whether I communicate with the police or not, though,’ said Tuppence.
    In a minute the girl had turned ashy pale.
    ‘You mustn’t–you mustn’t–I won’t go out–but don’t do that.’ She clung to Tuppence beseechingly.
    ‘My dear Miss Kingston Bruce,’ said Tuppence, smiling, ‘the case has been perfectly clear to me from the start–I –’
    But she was interrupted. In the stress of her encounter with the girl, Tuppence had not heard the front-door bell. Now, to her astonishment, Tommy came bounding up the stairs, and in the hall below she caught sight of a big burly man in the act of removing a bowler hat.
    ‘Detective Inspector Marriot of Scotland Yard,’ he said with a grin.
    With a cry, Beatrice Kingston Bruce tore herself from Tuppence’s grasp and dashed down the stairs, just as the front door was opened once more to admit Mr Rennie.
    ‘Now you have torn it,’ said Tuppence bitterly.
    ‘Eh?’ said Tommy, hurrying into Lady Laura’sroom. He passed on into the bathroom and picked up a large cake of soap which he brought out in his hands. The Inspector was just mounting the stairs.
    ‘She went quite quietly,’ he announced. ‘She’s an old hand and knows when the game is up. What about the pearl?’
    ‘I rather fancy,’ said Tommy, handing him the soap, ‘that you’ll find it in here.’
    The Inspector’s eyes lit up appreciatively.
    ‘An old trick, and a good one. Cut a cake of soap in half, scoop out a place for the jewel, clap it together again, and smooth the join well over with hot water. A very smart piece of work on your part, sir.’
    Tommy accepted the compliment gracefully. He and Tuppence descended the stairs. Colonel Kingston Bruce rushed at him and shook him warmly by the hand.
    ‘My dear sir, I can’t thank you enough. Lady Laura wants to thank you also –’
    ‘I am glad we have given you satisfaction,’ said Tommy. ‘But I’m afraid I can’t stop. I have a most urgent appointment. Member of the Cabinet.’
    He hurried out to the car and jumped in. Tuppence jumped in beside him.
    ‘But Tommy,’ she cried. ‘Haven’t they arrested Lady Laura after all?’
    ‘Oh!’ said Tommy. ‘Didn’t I tell you? They’ve not arrested Lady Laura. They’ve arrested Elise.’
    ‘You see,’ he went on, as Tuppence sat dumb-founded, ‘I’ve often tried to open a door with soap on my hands myself. It can’t be done–your hands slip. So I wondered what Elise could have been doing with the soap to get her hands as soapy as all that. She caught