The “Hindoo Booth” was near enough to the “Flower Booth” for Diana to watch the cousins, and the triumph of her late protegees was very bitter for her to endure.  Especially annoying was it to find Arthur Weldon devoting himself assiduously to Louise, who looked charming in her rose gown and favored Arthur in a marked way, although Charlie Mershone, refusing to be ignored, also leaned over the counter of the booth and chatted continually, striving to draw Miss Merrick’s attention to himself.

Forced to observe all this, Diana soon lost her accustomed coolness.  The sight of the happy faces of Arthur and Louise aroused all the rancor and subtile wit that she possessed, and she resolved upon an act that she would not before have believed herself capable of.  Leaning down, she released the catch of the famous pearls and unobserved concealed them in a handkerchief.  Then, leaving her booth, she sauntered slowly over to the floral display, which was surrounded for the moment by a crowd of eager customers.  Many of the vases and pottery jars which had contained flowers now stood empty, and just before the station of Louise Merrick the stock was sadly depleted.  This was, of course, offset by the store of money in the little drawer beside the fair sales-lady, and Louise, having greeted Diana with a smile and nod, turned to renew her conversation with the young men besieging her.

Diana leaned gracefully over the counter, resting the hand containing the handkerchief over the mouth of an empty Doulton vase—­empty save for the water which had nourished the flowers.  At the same time she caught Louise’s eye and with a gesture brought the girl to her side.  “Those young men are wealthy,” she said, carelessly, her head close to that of Louise.  “Make them pay well for their purchases, my dear.”

“I can’t rob them, Diana,” was the laughing rejoinder.

“But it is your duty to rob, at a Kermess, and in the interests of charity,” persisted Diana, maintaining her voice at a whisper.

Louise was annoyed.

“Thank you,” she said, and went back to the group awaiting her.

The floral booth was triangular, Beth officiated at one of the three sides, Patsy at another, and Louise at the third.  Diana now passed softly around the booth, interchanging a word with the other two girls, after which she returned to her own station.

Presently, while chatting with a group of acquaintances, she suddenly clasped her throat and assuming an expression of horror exclaimed: 

“My pearls!”

“What, the Von Taer pearls?” cried one.

“The Von Taer pearls,” said Diana, as if dazed by her misfortune.

“And you’ve lost them, dear?”

“They’re lost!” she echoed.

Well, there was excitement then, you may be sure.  One man hurried to notify the door-keeper and the private detective employed oh all such occasions, while others hastily searched the booth—­of course in vain.  Diana seemed distracted and the news spread quickly through the assemblage.