Replacing the envelope in her pocket, she rearranged the displaced desk ornaments, and picking up the note addressed to Joe, left the room. No one saw her make her way into the men’s cloakroom on the ground floor, but once there she stuck Joe’s note on the mantel in plain view and sped into the hall. Not wishing to encounter any servant she entered the lift and shot up to the drawing-room floor. She made certain the way was clear before venturing down the hall to the Chinese room. Mrs. Fordyce had sent her there earlier in the evening to get the _Evening Star_, and she had used the private staircase to go and return. It would be the quickest way to reach her patient undetected. But the contents of the Chinese room fascinated her, and she lingered on, examining with growing interest the many beautiful curios. So absorbed was she that she never heard the opening and closing of the hall door. “Oh, ho, Kathryn!” said a well-known voice, and with a stifled cry she faced about. “Chichester!” Barnard laughed softly as he observed her confusion. “Pretty, pretty, Kathryn!” he mocked. “Why so far from your patient, my dear?” “What business is that of yours?” “My general interest in your welfare prompts the question.” “Rot!” bitterly. “You have already shown me that you care nothing for me.” “Interest does not necessarily mean affection, my dear Kathryn. You are so emotional you confuse the terms.” “I don’t want your interest,” she replied sullenly, her resentment rising. “Oh, yes, you do,” with a provoking smile. “Suppose I lost interest in you and reported your neglect of Mrs. Fordyce to her husband. Is your reputation as a reliable nurse of no value to you?” “Not particularly.” “Indeed. Found a bonanza?” “No; a man who respects me.” Barnard laughed again. “Poor fool!” Kathryn’s cheeks turned as red as her hair as her smoldering wrath kindled under his look and words. “You are the pitiful fool; wasting your love on a girl who betrays you,” she snapped, and meeting his blank stare, added: “Marjorie Langdon has other intentions since being thrown with Duncan Fordyce. You don’t believe me? Well, I have proof she’s off with the old love. I found out tonight that she plans to ruin you.” “Bosh!” but Barnard paled. “I am in no woman’s power....” “Then why should Marjorie Langdon write to Admiral Lawrence?” she supplemented. “Why shouldn’t she?” he countered. “Put it down to a change of heart,” she taunted. “Perhaps Marjorie wants her old secretaryship back again, perhaps conscience prompts her to make restitution. The envelope was long, it could easily have held a legal document ... for instance, a codicil to a will.” “Where did you make this interesting discovery?” “Among Marjorie’s belongings.” “While playing hide-and-seek,” he jeered. “Well, did you leave it there?” “For you to steal?” The sneer cost her dearly, for Barnard’s quick wits grasped the situation.