“I’m going to the Embassy. Mr. Collings is over here on business; he called this afternoon. He’s my lawyer and a darling.” Gordon murmured something agreeable. Diana, at any rate, was off his conscience for the night. And she certainly was lovely. Receptive to his unspoken admiration, she purred a little to herself, then, to his wrath, undid the excellent impression that she had made by unlocking a drawer in his sacred table. “I say, who gave you the key of that?” he asked indignantly. “I found one that fitted,” she said, without embarrassment. “The drawer was empty except for a few queer German books, so I threw them out and had the lock changed. I must have some place to keep my things.” He choked down his rising ire. “What things have you got?” he asked. “My jewel case.” “That ought to be in the safe.” “What is the combination?” she asked. “Telma,” he said, before he knew what he was saying. And not another soul in the world knew that secret! Before his exasperation could find adequate expression, she had taken from the drawer and laid on the desk a small black object, at the sight of which Gordon recoiled. “You really ought not to keep firearms in the house, Diana,” he said nervously. “If you go fooling with a thing like that, you might do yourself an enormous amount of harm--in fact, kill yourself.” “Fiddlesticks!” said Diana. “I know that gun inside out. I could hit that keyhole three times in the five”--she pointed to the door. “Well, don’t,” said he loudly. “Is it loaded?” “Naturally it’s loaded,” she replied, handling the weapon tenderly. “There’s nothing in the breach, but the magazine is full. Shall I show you how it works?” “No, put the beastly thing away.” Diana obeyed, locked the drawer and put the key in her handbag. “Telma--I must remember that,” she mused. “I’d like you to forget it. I really never intended telling you or anybody else the combination of my safe. It isn’t right that you should know. You might inadvertently----” “I never do things inadvertently,” said Diana. “I do them maliciously, or sinfully, but I do them deliberately. You can drop me at the Embassy,” she said, as Eleanor helped her on with her cloak. “You’re so near to the Ritz that you could fall into the front porch. Unless you’re going to pick up somebody?” She looked round at him suspiciously. As a matter of fact, Gordon did intend picking up somebody, and his immediate objective was Buckingham Gate, where, in consequence of his change of plans, he arrived five minutes late. The restraint which Mrs. van Oynne showed was heroic. He was apologetic; under the influence of the bright restaurant and soft music, explanatory. “Diana again!” she said petulantly. “I almost think I dislike that Jane.” “Diana, you mean?” “I meant Diana,” said Heloise hurriedly. “Gordon, you don’t know how I’m looking forward to Saturday.”