Part 62 (2/2)

Lucille turned round. She recognised at once the man with whom she had conversed upon the steamer. In the quietest form of evening dress, there was something noticeable in the man's very insignificance. He seemed a little out of his element. Lucille had a sudden inspiration, The man was a detective.

”What do you wish to say?” she asked, half doubtfully.

”I overheard,” he remarked, ”your order to your maid. She had something to say to you, but you gave her no opportunity.”

”And you?” she asked, ”what do you wish to say?”

”I wish to advise you,” he said, ”not to leave the hotel.”

She looked at him doubtfully.

”You cannot understand,” she said, ”why I wish to leave it. I have no alternative.”

”Nevertheless,” he said, ”I hope that you will change your mind.”

”Are you a detective?” she asked abruptly.

”Madam is correct!”

The flush of colour faded from her cheeks.

”I presume, then,” she said, ”that I am under your surveillance?”

”In a sense,” he admitted, ”it is true.”

”On the steamer,” she remarked, ”you spoke as though your interest in me was not inimical.”

”Nor is it,” he answered promptly. ”You are in a difficult position, but you may find things not so bad as you imagine. At present my advice to you is this: Go upstairs to your room and stay there.”

The little man had a compelling manner. Lucille made her way towards the elevator.

”As a matter of fact,” she murmured bitterly, ”I am not, I suppose, permitted to leave the hotel?”

”Madam puts the matter bluntly,” he answered; ”but certainly if you should insist upon leaving, it would be my duty to follow you.”

She turned away from him and entered the elevator. The door of her room was slightly ajar, and she saw that a waiter was busy at a small round table. She looked at him in surprise. He was arranging places for two.

”Who gave you your orders?” she asked.

”But it was monsieur,” the man answered, with a low bow. ”Dinner for two.”

”Monsieur?” she repeated. ”What monsieur?”

”I am the culprit,” a familiar voice answered from the depths of an easy-chair, whose back was to her. ”I was very hungry, and it occurred to me that under the circ.u.mstances you would probably not have dined either. I hope that you will like what I have ordered. The plovers' eggs look delicious.”

She gave a little cry of joy. It was Mr. Sabin.

<script>