He lost count of time in his firm determination to await her return. As a matter of fact, it was only a few minutes before he was conscious of her reappearance. She hesitated for a moment on the threshold of the shop, shook her head at the footman who was already opening the door of the car, and approached Aaron Rodd. He turned abruptly from the window and greeted her with grave politeness. She glanced at his left arm, still in a sling; at the heavy walking-stick by which he supported himself. "Good afternoon, Mr. Rodd," she said. "You have met, perhaps, with a little accident? It is so?" "Your friends were a little rough," he replied. "I shall be annoyed with them," she promised. "You received my message?" "Certainly," he replied. "On the whole I agree with you." She shrugged her shoulders. "And what are you doing in Bond Street?" she asked him. "I am on my way to meet my friend Harvey Grimm." She nodded. "That is your clever confederate, who stole our diamond," she remarked suavely. "A very fortunate circumstance for you," he ventured to remind her. "If that stone--the real one, I mean--had been discovered in your possession at the police-station, I fancy that your position in this country would have become a little difficult." "Oh, la, la!" she laughed. "You should have seen the face of Mr. Brodie though, when they examined the imitation stone! I do not think that the English police are pleased with him. They were very kind to my grandfather and me." "Nevertheless," he advised, "if I were your brother, I think that I would keep away from London just now." "And why?" Aaron Rodd glanced up and down the pavement to be sure that there were no listeners. "That fellow Brodie is not such a fool as he seems," he declared. "He has made one mistake. I do not think that he is likely to make another." She laughed. "If it is to be a duel of wits," she murmured, "between Leopold and Mr. Brodie, do you know, I believe that Leopold will win." "There is such a thing as over-confidence," he reminded her. "I have so many ways," she told him, with twinkling eyes, "of diverting these people from the scent. Do you recognise the old lady upon whom I am in attendance to-day, the old lady who went with me into that shop?" "I have not that pleasure," he replied grimly. "Is she one of the gang?" "She is a royal princess--the Princess Augusta. If you do not believe me, look in this week's _Tatler_ and you will see her picture--perhaps mine. You are a very funny man, Mr. Aaron Rodd, and you have treated us very badly indeed, but I like you--yes, I like you quite well. How much money did you get for that stone you stole from us?" The colour mounted mercilessly to his temples. He seemed suddenly bereft of words.