'And he made a very bad waiter indeed,' Camilla added.

'I regret it,' said Hugo. 'He meant well.' 'When the waiters had gone I
asked Mr. Tudor if they were his own servants. He hesitated, and then
admitted frankly that they were not. He told me that his servants were
out on leave for the evening. "You don't mean to say that I am now alone
with you in the flat!" I protested. "No," he said quickly. "Mrs. Dant is
always in her room across the passage. Don't be alarmed, dearest." His
tone reassured me. After coffee, he took my photograph by flashlight. He
printed one copy at once, and then, after we had both been in the
dark-room together, he returned there to get some more printing-paper.
While he was absent I went into the housekeeper's room for a
handkerchief which I had left there. Mrs. Dant was not in the room. But
in a mirror I saw the reflection of a man hiding behind the door. I was
awfully frightened. However, I pretended to see nothing, and tried to
hum a song. I same into the passage. The passage window was open, and I
looked out. Another man was watching on the balcony. Of course, I saw
instantly it was a plot. I--I--'

'Did you recognise the men, then?' Hugo asked.

'The one in the room I was not quite sure of. The other, on the balcony,
was your detective, I think. I saw him disappear in this direction.'

'But whatever the plot was, Shawn had no hand in it.'

'No, no, of course not! I see now. But the other, in the room! Ah, if
you knew all my history, you would understand better! I felt that some
vengeance was out against me. I saw everything clearly. I tried to keep
my head, and to decide calmly what I ought to do. It was from a little