"Well, it was Quintana and his gang of international criminals who did that," said Darragh drily. And, to Eve: "By accident this case of jewels, emblazoned with the coat of arms of the Grand Duchess of Esthonia, came into your father's possession. That is the story, Eve." There was a silence. The girl looked at Stormont, flushed painfully, looked at Darragh. Then, without a word, she turned, ascended the stairs, and reappeared immediately carrying the leather case. "Thank you, Mr. Darragh," she said simply; and laid the case in his hand. "But," said Darragh, "I want you to do a little more, Eve. The owner of these gems is my guest at Harrod Place. I want you to give them to her yourself." "I--I can't go to Harrod Place," stammered the girl. "Please don't visit the sins of Henry Harrod on me, Eve." "I--don't. But--but that place----" After a silence: "If Eve feels that way," began Stormont awkwardly, "I couldn't become associated with you in business, Jim----" "I'd rather sell Harrod Place than lose you!" retorted Darragh almost sharply. "I want to go into business with you, Jack--if Eve will permit me----" She stood looking at Stormont, the heightened colour playing in her cheeks as she began to comprehend the comradeship between these two men. Slowly she turned to Darragh, offered her hand: "I'll go to Harrod Place," she said in a low voice. Darragh's quick smile brightened the sombre gravity of his face. "Eve," he said, "when I came over here this morning from Harrod Place I was afraid you would refuse to listen to me; I was afraid you would not even see me. And so I brought with me--somebody--to whom I felt certain you would listen.... I brought with me a young girl--a poor refugee from Russia, once wealthy, to-day almost penniless.... Her name is Theodorica.... Once she was Grand Duchess of Esthonia.... But this morning a clergyman from Five Lakes changed her name.... To such friends as you and Jack she is Ricca Darragh now ... and she's having a wonderful time on her new snow-shoes----" He took Eve by one hand and Stormont by the other, and drew them to the kitchen door and kicked it open. Through the swirling snow, over on the lake-slope at the timber edge, a graceful, boyish figure in scarlet and white wool moved swiftly over the drifts with all the naive delight of a child with a brand new toy. As Darragh strode out into the open the distant figure flung up one arm in salutation and came racing over the drifts, her brilliant scarf flying. All aglow and a trifle breathless, she met Darragh just beyond the veranda, rested one mittened hand on his shoulder while he knelt and unbuckled her snow-shoes, stepped lightly from them and came forward to Eve with out-stretched hand and a sudden winning gravity in her lovely face. "We shall be friends, surely," she said in her quick, winning voice;--"because my husband has told me--and I am so grieved for you--and I need a girl friend----"