He went out by one door, and a few moments later Miss Schuyler came in by another. She swept a hasty glance round the hall, most of which was in the shadow, and her eyes caught the faint sparkle at the maid's neck. The next moment the girl moved back out of the light; but Miss Schuyler saw her hand go up, and fancied there was something in it when it came down again. She had also heard a man's footstep, and could put two and two together. "Miss Torrance wants the silk. It was here, but I don't see it," she said. "Who went out a moment or two ago?" The girl opened a bureau. "Mr. Clavering. He left his cigar-case when he first came in." She took out a piece of folded silk, and Miss Schuyler noticed the fashion in which she held it. "It is the lighter shade we want; but the other piece is very like it. Unroll it so I can see it," she said. The maid seemed to find this somewhat difficult; but Miss Schuyler had seen a strip of red leather between the fingers of one hand, and understanding why it was so, went out thoughtfully. She knew the appearance of a jewel-case tolerably well, and had more than a suspicion as to whom the girl had obtained it from. Miss Schuyler, who would not have believed Clavering's assertion about the trinket had she heard it, wondered what he expected in exchange for it, which perhaps accounted for the fact that she contrived to overtake him in the corridor at the head of the stairs. "When you left Hetty and me alone we understood it was because Mr. Torrance was waiting for you," she said. "Yes," said Clavering, smiling. "It is scarcely necessary to explain that if he hadn't been I would not have gone. I fancied he was in the hall." Flora Schuyler nodded as though she believed him, but she determined to leave no room for doubt. "He is in his office," she said. "Have you the deerskin cigar-case you showed us with you? You will remember I was interested in the Indian embroidery." "I'm sorry I haven't," said Clavering. "Torrance's cigars are better than mine, so I usually leave mine at home. But I'll bring the case next time, and if you would like to copy it, I could get you a piece of the dressed hide from one of the Blackfeet." He turned away, and Flora Schuyler decided not to tell Hetty what she had heard--Hetty was a little impulsive occasionally--but it seemed to Miss Schuyler that it would be wise to watch her maid and Clavering closely.