Reggie went downstairs to the smoking-room. He was stretched in a chair consuming soda-water and a large cigar when there broke upon him in a wave of chattering Tom Beach and Alice and Captain Cosdon. “Oh, Mr. Fortune, is this a perfect crime?” Alice laughed. Reggie shook his head. “I’m afraid it had an accident in its youth. The crime that took the wrong turning.” “How do you mean, Fortune?” Tom Beach frowned. “It’s deuced awkward.” “Awkward is the word,” Reggie agreed. “What’s gone, Colonel?” “Well, there’s my pots, you know. And Alice has lost a set of cameos she had in her dressing-room.” “Pigs!” said Alice with conviction. “And Mrs. Faulks says they’ve taken that big ruby brooch she was wearing before dinner. You know it.” “It’s one of the things I could bear not to know,” Reggie murmured. “Nothing else?” “She says she doesn’t know, she’s too upset to be sure. I say, Fortune, this is a jolly business for me.” “My dear chap!” “She’s gone to bed fuming. Faulks is in a sweet state too.” “What’s he lost?” “Only his eye,” Cosdon chuckled. “That’s the lot, then? Nice little bag, but rather on the small side. Yes, it didn’t go according to plan.” “Oh, Mr. Fortune, what are you going to do?” “Do?” said Reggie reproachfully. “I? Where’s the nearest policeman?” “Why, here,” Alice pointed at him. “Cranston Abbas,” said Tom Beach, “and he’s only a yokel. Village constable, don’t you know.” “Yes, you are rather remote, Colonel. What is there about you that brings the wily cracksman down here?” “Mrs. Faulks!” Alice cried. “That woman must travel with a jeweller’s shop. There’s a chance for you, Mr. Fortune. Get her rubies back and you’ll win her heart.” “Jewelled in fifteen holes. I’d be afraid of burglars. Mrs. Beach, you’re frivolous, and the Colonel’s going to burst into tears. Will anyone tell me what did happen? We were all in the drawing-room--no. Where were you, Cosdon?” “Writing letters here, old thing.” “Quite so. And the servants?” “All in the servants’ hall at supper!” Colonel Beach said. “They are all right.” “Quite. Miss Winslow went upstairs and saw a man at her window. There’s a ladder at it. She screamed and the lights went out. Why?” “The rascals got at the powerhouse. Baker found the main switch off.” “Then they knew their way about here. Have you sacked any servant lately? Had any strange workman in the place? No? Yet the intelligence work was very sound. Well, in the darkness Miss Winslow tumbled out into the passage and was grabbed and screamed, and the brave Faulks ran upstairs and took a black eye, and Miss Winslow took the count, and when we arrived there wasn’t a burglar in sight. Yes, there was some luck about.” “Not for Sally,” said her sister. “No,” said Reggie thoughtfully. “No, but there was a lot of luck going.” He surveyed them through his cigar smoke with a bland smile. “What do you think I ought to do, Fortune?” said Tom Beach.