“I believe not. Adela Sellingworth is said to have behaved most fatalistically when the story came out. She said the jewels were gone long ago, and there was an end of it, and that she couldn’t be bothered.” “Bothered!--about such a loss?” “And, what’s more, she got rid of the maid.” “Very odd!” “It was. Very odd! Her abdication also was very odd and abrupt. She changed her way of living, gave up society, let her hair go white, allowed her face to do whatever it chose, and, in fact, became very much what she is now--the most charming _old_ woman in London.” “Oh, is she charming?” “Is she charming!” Braybrooke raised his thick eyebrows and looked really pitiful. “I will see if I can take you there one day,” he continued, after a rebuking pause. “But don’t count on it. She doesn’t see very many people. Still, I think she might like you. You have tastes in common. She is interested in everything that is interesting--except, perhaps, in love affairs. She doesn’t seem to care about love affairs. And yet some young girls are devoted to her.” “Perhaps that is because she has abdicated.” Braybrooke looked at Craven with rather sharp inquiry. “I only mean that I don’t think, as a rule, young girls are very fond of elderly women whose motto is ‘never give up.’” Craven explained. “Ah?” Braybrooke was silent. Then, lighting a cigarette, he remarked: “Youth is very charming, but one must say that it is set free from cruelty.” “I agree with you. But what about the old guard?” Craven asked. “Is that always so very kind?” Then he suddenly remembered that in London there is an “old guard” of men, and that undoubtedly Braybrooke belonged to it; and, afraid that he was blundering, he changed the conversation. CHAPTER II A fortnight later Craven received a note from his old friend saying that Braybrooke had spoken about him to “Adela Sellingworth,” and that she would be glad to know him. Braybrooke was off to Paris to stay with the Mariguys, but all Craven had to do was to leave a card at Number 18A, Berkeley Square, and when this formality had been accomplished Lady Sellingworth would no doubt write to him and suggest an hour for a meeting. Craven thanked his friend, left a card at Number 18A, and a day or two later received an invitation to go to tea with Lady Sellingworth on the following Sunday. He stayed in London on purpose to do this, although he had promised to go into the country from Saturday to Monday. Braybrooke had succeeded in rousing keen interest in him. It was not Craven’s habit to be at the feet of old ladies. He much preferred to them young or youngish women, unmarried or married. But Lady Sellingworth “intrigued” him. She had been a reigning beauty. She had “lived” as not many English women had lived. And then--the stolen jewels and her extraordinary indifference about their loss! Decidedly he wanted to know her!