"I can understand what you mean," said Kitty, after a pause; "but it's all wrong. I never paid this money for Malton." "Pardon me,--Weakness," said Naball politely. "Bah! why keep up this transparent deception? Your story is excellent, and I understand all about Folly, Vice, and Strength, but you are wrong--that jewel is not mine. I never paid the money, and I don't know anything about Malton's business, so you can leave me at once, and never show your face again." "But the jewel?" said the detective, holding it out. Kitty snatched it out of his hand, and flung it across the lawn. It flashed brilliantly in the sunlight, and fell just on the verge of the flower-bed. "You can follow it,--Bloodhound," she said disdainfully, and, entering the house, closed the window after her. Naball stood for a moment smiling in a gratified manner to himself, then, sauntering slowly across the lawn, picked up the jewel and replaced it in his pocket. "I knew I was right," he murmured quietly, as he strolled to the gate; "she stole the diamonds to pay Malton's debt, and Villiers got this for payment as an accomplice. I wish I could get on with the case, but she won't let me--what a pity; dear, dear, what a pity!" He had by this time reached the gate, and was passing through it, when a hansom drove up, from out which Fenton jumped. "Well?" he asked, when he saw Naball. "Well," said Naball, dusting his varnished boots with a silk handkerchief. "What does she say?" asked Fenton inquiringly "What a woman generally does say--everything but the truth. Going to see her?" "Yes," said Fenton, paying his cab fare; "can I do anything?" "Two things," observed Naball quietly: "in the first place, let me have your cab; and in the second, give this to Caprice with my compliments," and he handed the crescent of diamonds to Fenton. "Why didn't you give it to her yourself?" asked Fenton, taking it. "Because she said it wasn't hers," replied Naball, getting into the cab. "I can't do anything more in the matter; it's a beautiful case spoiled." "Why spoiled?" asked Fenton, pausing at the gate. "Because there's a woman in it," replied Naball; "good-bye!" and the cab drove off in a cloud of dust, leaving Fenton at the gate looking in a puzzled manner at the diamond crescent. "Why the deuce did she deny this being hers?" he asked himself as he opened the gate. "I know it well--I ought to, considering I paid for it--there's some game in this." He rang the bell, which was answered by Bliggings, who, in reply to his question as to whether Kitty was at home, burst out into a volley of language. "Oh, gracious an' good 'eavens, missus 'ave bin talkin' to a lady this mornin', and is that upset as never was--chalk is black to her complexing, and penny hices 'ot to the chill of her feets." "Humph!" said Fenton, entering the house and leisurely taking off his hat, "just tell your mistress I want to see her."