"Seven thousand pounds," echoed Isabel with a gasp. "Oh, but how lovely! I can live on that for ever." She hesitated for a moment. "They are part of the Royal collection you know. Pedro gave them to me when we were betrothed--at least I don't suppose he really meant me to keep them." Tony laughed joyously. "What fun!" he exclaimed. "I should love to have seen Da Freitas' face when he heard you had taken them with you. Though as a matter of fact," he added, "we shall probably see it quite soon enough, unless Uncle Phil was too agitated to recognize me." "Recognize you?" repeated Isabel, opening her eyes. "Why he has never seen you before this morning!" "Yes, he has," said Tony. "I happened to be in the hall of the Club yesterday, when he came rushing in to tell Da Freitas that you had disappeared. At least I imagine that was what he came for. He could hardly have been so beautifully excited about anything else." "Oh dear!" exclaimed Isabel in dismay. "Then if he saw you in the car he will be able to find out who you are from Da Freitas." Tony nodded. "One can't have all the trumps," he observed philosophically. "It would be an awfully dull game if one did." There was a second's pause. Then with a sudden impulsive gesture Isabel clasped her hands together in front of her. "I don't care," she remarked defiantly. "I'm not frightened of them. I don't believe I shall be frightened of anything--not with you to help me." CHAPTER X THE ROYAL ENTERPRISE The mellow-toned grandfather clock in the corner chimed out the stroke of nine-thirty as Guy crossed the hall with a bundle of papers in his hand. He had reached the foot of the banisters and was preparing to ascend, when his progress was brought to a sudden standstill. Coming down the broad oak staircase, with the inevitable cigarette between his lips, was the smiling and fully dressed figure of Sir Antony Conway. Guy stared at him incredulously. "Good gracious, Tony!" he observed. "Do you mean to say you have got up to breakfast two days running?" "I have," said Tony with some dignity. "As the prospective member for Balham North, I feel it's my duty to be thoroughly English." He reached the bottom of the stairs and slipped his arm through his cousin's. "I have told Spalding that I will have porridge, eggs and bacon, marmalade, and a copy of the _Times_," he added. "Come along into the study and help me to face them." "Well, I am pretty busy this morning," said Guy, "but I would sacrifice a good deal for the sake of seeing you reading the _Times_ and eating a proper healthy breakfast." "Oh, I don't suppose I shall go as far as that," said Tony. "I shall probably only look at them. There is no point in carrying things to extremes." He pushed open the door of the study, where they discovered Spalding in the act of putting the finishing touches to a charmingly appointed breakfast table.