“Oh dear!” said Isabel in dismay.  She was no more anxious for them to meet than Lawrence was, but Val’s footstep on the turf was dangerously near.  But he was making for the middle of the lilac-hedge, for the red rose archway and the asphalt walk between reddening apple trees:  and Isabel was sitting near the end, close to the garden wall.  She flew out of her chair, held up a branch while Lawrence squeezed between the wall and the lilacs, and flew back and curled up again.  The lilac leaves had not finished twinkling and rustling when Val appeared.

“How are you, invalid?  I came home early on purpose to look after you.”  He was in well-worn grey riding clothes, booted and spurred, his whip in one hand and his gloves in the other:  a slight, cool, well-knit figure of low tones and half-lights.  “Have you had a quiet afternoon?”

“So-so,” said Isabel, crimson.

“You look flushed, my darling,” said Val tenderly.  He sat down at the foot of Isabel’s Indian chair and laid a finger on her wrist.  “You don’t feel feverish, do you?” The light click of the wicket gate, which meant that Lawrence was safely off the premises, enabled Isabel to say no with a sigh of relief.  “It must be the hot weather.  Hallo! what have we here?”

He held up the gold cigarette case which had dropped from Hyde’s coat when he was lying on the grass.

“Some of Mrs. Bendish’s property by the look of it,” remarked Val.  “Diamonds, begad!  I should have thought Yvonne had better taste.  But it must be hers, though the cipher doesn’t seem to have a B in it.  I’ll guarantee it isn’t Rosy’s.”  He slipped it into his pocket.  “I’ll give it to Jack, I shall see him tonight at the vestry-meeting.”

“It belongs to Captain Hyde.”

“How do you know?”

“He’s been here this afternoon.”

“How long did he stay?”

“What time is it?—­ An hour and twenty minutes.”

“What brought him?” said Val, bewildered.

Isabel was mute. . .  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Isabel.  Has he been with you all that time?  Very stupid of him when I particularly wanted you to have a quiet afternoon.  When did he go?”

“He has only just gone.”

“Just gone?  I never saw him.”

“He went by the wicket gate.”

“But I came in by the wicket gate myself!” said Val.  His kind serene eyes rested on his sister without a shadow of any thought behind surprise.

“I left the mare with Rowsley in the village.”

Isabel sat up suddenly and wound her arms round Val’s neck.  “I sent him away when I heard you coming.  He dodged you behind the lilacs.  I didn’t want to tell you he’d been here.  I never should have told you if you hadn’t found that case.”

“You got rid of him—­ This minute?  Because I came—?  Isabel!” Stafford held her off.  “It is not possible—!  Listen to me:  I will have an answer.  I know Hyde.  Has he said anything to offend you?”