it’s useless for you to try and see him yourself. You can drop me at the office!” 

 Desmond was inclined to agree with her on this point and said so. 

 “There is one thing especially that puzzles me, Miss Mackwayte,” Desmond observed as they drove westward again, “and that is, how anyone could have known about your having this box of Nur-el-Din’s. Was there anybody else in the room when she gave you the package?” 

 “No,” said Barbara, “I don’t think so. Wait a minute, though, Nur-el-Din’s maid must have come in very shortly after for I remember the opened the door when Captain Strangwise came to tell me daddy was waiting to take me home.” 

 “Do you remember if Nur-el-Din actually mentioned the package in the presence of the maid!” 

 “As far as I can recollect just as the maid opened the door to Captain Strangwise, Nur-el-Din was impressing on me again to take great care of the package. I don’t think she actually mentioned the box but I remember her pointing at my bag where I had put the package.” 

 “The maid didn’t see Nur-el-Din give you the box?” 

 “No, I’m sure of that. The room was empty save for us two. It was only just before Captain Strangwise knocked that I noticed Marie arranging Nur-el-Din’s dresses. She must have come in afterwards without my seeing her.” 

 “Well then, this girl, Marie, didn’t see the dancer give you the box but she heard her refer to it. Is that right?” 

 “Yes, and, of course, Captain Strangwise...” 

 “What about him?” 

 “He must have heard what Nur-el-Din was saying, too!” 

 Desmond rubbed his chin. 

 “I say, you aren’t going to implicate old Strangwise, too, are you?” he asked. 

 Barbara did not reflect his smile. 

 “He seems to know Nur-el-Din pretty well,” she said, “and I’ll tell you something else, that woman’s afraid of your friend, the Captain!” 

 “What do you mean?” asked Desmond. 

 Prev. P 51/226 next