And Phyllys asked in an undertone, "Why should Mr. Dugdale want to prove that you are like that picture?" "I don't know." Colin spoke wearily, as if the discussion tried him. "Having once made the assertion, he sticks to it." "You don't care whether you are or not!" "Not a fig! Anybody may be like anybody." She could not rival his indifference, and waited in suspense till the two came back, Mr. Dugdale saying triumphantly—"Just as I told you! Vanished!" "The picture gone! You really mean to say that it is not there!" Mrs. Keith drew near with amazed looks. "My dear Giles! You must be dreaming. Not there!" "It is not in the gallery." "But where 'can' it be?" "That is the question. We have to find out." "Certainly you must find out," broke in Mr. Dugdale. "A valuable painting can't be allowed to disappear." Mrs. Keith gave an odd laugh. "But, Giles, it is impossible. The thing can't have walked off of itself." "No. To-morrow morning I must question the servants." "The servants would not dare! And they could have no object in moving it." "They might know its value. Not that I suspect them. It is rather a question whether any one has been in and walked off with it." Her face lighted up. "Giles! I remember now! That evening, when we heard steps about the house—you can't have forgotten! When we thought a thief might have got in." "I found no signs of one." "So you said; but one does not know. The picture was in its place before. I am sure, because that was the day Colin came home. Mr. Dugdale said something of the same sort about Colin's face, and before going to bed, I took a look at the portrait—out of curiosity. The likeness I found to be purely imaginary!" Mr. Dugdale grunted dissent. "Purely imaginary," she repeated. "Still, the painting was safe then. An hour or two later we heard sounds about—footsteps—what I always shall believe to have been a thief. Now we know what he carried off." Giles seemed half convinced. "I've never noticed the painting since that day—and it seems that you have not either," she added. "I have not looked for it." "It was in its place before. It is not in its place now. What other explanation is possible?" "If it was taken then, I can't understand its not being missed sooner," objected Mr. Dugdale. "Why should it be? Nobody has given it a thought." Giles was silent. His glance had wandered to Colin, who seemed trying to decipher Phyllys. She looked up, met his eyes, and blushed. Giles' sombreness increased. "Great mistake its ever having been removed from this room," Mr. Dugdale declared. "A mistake possibly, but a natural one," protested Mrs. Keith. "The picture was out of its place. Well enough in a study or a gallery; but not in a drawing-room. Mr. Penrhyn did not mind." "Mr. Penrhyn never minded anything." "At all events, I acted for the best. One can't do more. Of course I never dreamt of thieves." "I shall not rest till it is found," said Giles.