“If pluck will make you win, I am sure you will carry it through, but if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again; and if you haven’t the money, I’ll supply the capital. I know I should like to gamble. Anyhow, you have my best wishes for your success.” “Thank you, Princess. I can hardly fail after that.” The time had come when the two friends must part. The carriage was waiting to take Miss Baxter to the station, and the girl bade good-bye to her hostess with an uneasy feeling that she was acting disloyally to one who had befriended her. In her handbag was the invitation to the ball, and also the letter she had written in the Princess’s name accepting it, which latter she posted in Meran. In due course she reached London, and presented herself to the editor of the _Daily Bugle_. “Well, Miss Baxter,” he said, “you have been extraordinarily successful in solving the diamond mystery, and I congratulate you. My letter reached you, I suppose. Have you given any thought to the problem that now confronts us? Can you get us a full report of the Duchess of Chiselhurst’s ball, written so convincingly that all the guests who read it will know that the writer was present?” “It is entirely a question of money, Mr. Hardwick.” “Most things are. Well, we are prepared to spend money to get just what we want.” “How much?” “Whatever is necessary.” “That’s vague. Put it into figures.” “Five hundred pounds; seven hundred; a thousand if need be.” “It will not cost you a thousand, and it may come to more than five hundred. Place the thousand to my credit, and I shall return what is left. I must go at once to Paris and carry out my plans from that city.” “Then you have thought out a scheme. What is it?” “I have not only thought it out, but most of the arrangements are already made. I cannot say more about it. You will have to trust wholly to me.” “There is a good deal of money at stake, Miss Baxter, and our reputation as a newspaper as well. I think I should know what you propose to do.” “Certainly. I propose to obtain for you an accurate description of the ball, written by one who was present.” The editor gave utterance to a sort of interjection that always served him in place of a laugh. “In other words, you want neither interference nor advice.” “Exactly, Mr. Hardwick. You know from experience that little good comes of talking too much of a secret project not yet completed.” The editor drummed with his fingers on the table for a few moments thoughtfully. “Very well, then, it shall be as you say. I should have been very glad to share the responsibility of failure with you; but if you prefer to take the whole risk yourself, there is nothing more to be said. The thousand pounds shall be placed to your credit at once. What next?”