"Oh, Sanders and I have caught my cousin Juliet's maid. We're sure it's she who gave away things to the 'Whisperer.' Sanders is putting her through the 'third degree' now. I couldn't stop to hear it out. I was due here. Besides, it looks as if the woman--Simone--was mixed up in the disappearance of the pearls, with the chap who brought them from France--Defasquelle. Perhaps this Veno person is in the affair, too. And the whole business may be one--with ramifications." "That is what I've wondered--since Sonia confessed to-day what they made her do. She was to go to the Duchess, and tell her that Madame Veno had seen Claremanagh in the crystal--that she could help her find him. Sonia suspected something queer. She was sure at once that Lowndes was on that horrid paper--perhaps editor--of that vile 'Whisperer'. And she'd heard the story about his being in love with your cousin when she was Miss Phayre. So she told him she couldn't do this commission. Then Lowndes lost all his good nature. He threatened that the 'Whisperer' of the _Inner Circle_ might get some new material from him to whisper about: that there'd be paragraphs hinting of her debts and the ruin of her husband's career. That would have been the end of all things for Sonia! So she consented, after all. She called on the Duchess and told her that Madame Veno wanted to see her." "When was that?" "Three days ago." "Juliet never breathed a word to Sanders or me. She left us in the dark." "She would! Most women would. I should have let you know before, but Sonia told me only to-day. I wrote at once and asked you to come." "Thank you, my White Swan. Many women in your place would have sat still and let poor Juliet go to the devil for treating you in the cattish way she has." "I've no grudge against her! I should have done so in her place, if--if the man had been you, instead of Claremanagh." "Darling! You expect to keep me at arms' length after that?" "Yes--yes! Listen. The Duchess went to Madame Veno." "How do you know?" "The Veno woman herself was to inform Sonia if she didn't turn up. In that case Sonia was to urge the Duchess. She--Sonia, I mean--was forced to go to Veno's place as if to have her hand read, because _they_ wouldn't risk anything in writing. Luckily she had to make only one visit, because the very first time she was told the Duchess had been there. She was to come again on the third day. That was all arranged, though Sonia imagined that the Duchess didn't _know_ this. She was to think the arrangement was made later. But the third day is to-day. Sonia thought the first call the Duchess made was late in the afternoon, and something was dropped about the 'same hour next time'. I believe she must be at Veno's at this moment. And if those _Inner Circle_ people are in the thing, and it's a plot of some sort----" "I'll go there now!" "What, to the _Inner Circle_ office?"