“Do the police know?” she asked. “About you? No. I think they might find out--not from me.” “Sit down.” She was very calm. He thought she was going to explain, and was quite satisfied that the explanation was a very simple one, but she had no such intention, as her first words told him. “I can’t tell you now the why of everything. I am too--what is the word? Too tense. I am not so sure that that is the word, either, but my defences are in being. I dare not relax one of them, or the whole would go. Of course, I knew nothing of the murder--you never dreamt I did?” He shook his head. “I did not know until Sunday morning, when I was driving out to Stone Cottage,” she said. “It was only by accident that I bought a paper in the street, and then I made my decision. I went straight to the police station with my story of the lost jewel-case. I knew it was in the vault and I had to find some explanation.” “How did it come to be in the vault?” Tab knew that the question was futile before it was half out. “That is part of the other story,” she smiled faintly. “Do you believe me?” He looked up at her quickly, and their eyes met. “Does it matter whether I believe or not?” he asked quietly. “It matters a great deal to me,” she said in the same tone. It was his gaze that fell first. Then in a different and more cheery voice, she went on: “You have to help me, Mr. Tab. Not in the matter we have been discussing--I don’t mean that.” “I’ll help you in that,” said Tab. “I think you will,” she answered quickly, “but for the moment, ungracious as it may sound, I do not need help. The other matter is more personal. Do you remember telling me about your friend?” “Rex?” he asked in surprise. She nodded. “He went to Naples, didn’t he? I had a letter from him written on board.” Tab smiled. “Poor old Rex. What did he want, your photograph?” “More than that,” she said quietly. “You won’t think I am horrible if I betray his confidence, but I must, if you are to help me. Mr. Lander has done me the honour of asking me to marry him.” Tab looked at her open-mouthed. “Rex?” he said incredulously. She nodded. “I won’t show you the letter, it would hardly be fair; but he has asked me to give my answer in the agony column of the ‘Megaphone’. He says that he has an agent in London who will send it by wireless, and I was wondering--” she hesitated. “If I were the agent?” said Tab, “No, I know nothing whatever about this.” She drew a sigh. “I’m glad,” she said inconsequently. “I mean, I’m glad that you won’t be hurt even indirectly.” “Do you intend putting in the advertisement?” “I have already sent it to the paper,” she said. “Here is a copy.” She went to her writing-table and brought back a slip of paper and Tab read: “Rex: What you ask is quite impossible. I shall never make any other reply. U.”