LADY PAMELA'S PEARLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19508, 11 December 1926, Page 16 (Supplement)

LADY PAMELA'S PEARLS.

BY JOHN IRONSIDE.

SYNOPSIS

• Mr Sintell.-head of the firm of Sintell and Lake, Jewellors, gives an order to bis ■secretary, David Wenworth, to coirvey a valuable rope, of i>eatls to Mr., Kupert Varick's place in Hampshire, stay the night, and brings them back the following day. Mr. Varick's young wife, tho frivolous Lady Pamela, wishes to wear them that night. David rejoices at tho chance of seeing Lady Pamela once more. When he was a boy Lord Erringham's little daughter and. he were bosom friends. Mr. Sintell warns him to bo careful with regard to Lac'iy Pamela Varick. The young mail sets oil. Arrived nt his destination, David is ushered into the presence of Lady Pamela. She recognises him, and greets him affectionately as •' Binkie," and they have a chat. Pamela gives him a short account of how matters stood when she married Varick, the multimillionaire. Bids him understand that she still regards him as her friend. Rupert Varick enters and Lady. Pamela instantly changes into the hard and frivolous society butterfly. Her husband places the pearls round his wife's neck and toys with them there. Wentworth dines with them as their guest, and later husband and wife depart for the ball. During the night hours David has troubled thoughts concerning tho early love of his life. In the morning ho is conducted to Lady Pamela's boudoir, where ho finds also Rupert Varick and his grownup daughter—Pamela's step-daughter. Varick parcels the pearls. David tells Pamela nhe can command him ill everything. The train runs into a fog, thus delaying Wenworth so that he is too lato for tho hank. Ho deposits the pearls in his firm's strong room. Some three months later Mr. Sintell informs David that he has heard from Mr. Varick, who wants his advice and will call at 13.30 that day. Left alone,, David's thoughts travel to Pamela. A telephone call interrupts them. Lady Pamela speaking, tolls Binkie that she is in terrible trouble and wants his help to-day.

David Wentworth 'phones Lady Pamela that he will coine at once. Ho orders a. closed car to be outside Baker Street station at ten to twelve: leaves word for Mr. Sintell that he has to go out, and at Baker Street station meets Pamela. They enter the closed car and drive towards Hertford, while Pamela borrows some money nnd gives Binkie on idea of the kind of life she has been living with Rupert Varick, whom she has left, as she hopes, for ever. She intends to go to her old nurse. Mrs. Briggs, who lives in an out-of-the-way little -cottage, not far from a village five miles from Hertford. She receives a warm welcome from her old "Nannn." David and -the chauffeur set out on tho return journey. CHAPTER IV. / LUNCH AND AFTER. At twelve-thirty to the minute Rupert Varick and his daughter, Lena, an aggressively opulent looking pair, were shown into Mr. Sintell's private room. "Hello, Mr. Sintell, how are you?" said Varick breezily. "My daughter, Miss Varick. Don't think you've met before. Well, how's young Wentworth? Nice lad. Pal of my wife's, when they were both kids." " Wentworth is out at the moment, Mr. Varick. What can I do for you?" " Well, first of all I want you to give me your expert opinion of my wife's pearls—the famous rope you re-strung in the winter. Expect you saw 'em then? Hand 'em over, Lena." From an enormous brocade affair, like a huge, flat, oblong cushion, that she hugged under her arm, Miss Varick produced a case and handed it to the jeweller. Sintell's eyes narrowed as he examined the gems, as the father and daughter, watching him closely, noted, and thereupon exchanged significant glances. " Well?" asked Varick, as Sintell carefully re-coiled the rope, closed the case, and handed it back. " Quite good work of its kind. Value about" ; two hundred pounds." said the expert. Varick shouted with laughter. "Just what I paid tor * em. No usfc tryin* to take you ui—and ]' didn't expect to really. I must have my little joke! And they are a jolly good imitation, aren't they'?- Jt-.-was = your- young - Wentworth himself put me up to it, and I'd have got you to make 'em, but he said you didn't 1 go in for that kind of thing." " Quite right. We do not." "Just so. Now this is the real point. Do you think any ordinary person—say my wife, Lady Pamela, for instance—would know one ropo from the other?" Sintell looked at him keenly, but Varick's beady black eyes avoided his gaze, as, pulling out the sham pearls, he dangled and affected to admire them. " Impossible to say. I think it probable that they might pass for real with anyone who lias no expert knowledge or 'feel' for gems. Those things are quite beautiful as an ornament, though to me they are mere trash. But if you do not wish Lady Pame-la.to-detectthe— ** » " Fraudl?"■ spggest-ed Varick blandly. "Well,-.-.it's the right word," said Sintell drily. "It would be wise to put the beads in the original case. That one looks too new." r . : i . " Good idea. I never thought of that! And now we can come to business. That is quite confidential, Mr. Sintell?" " Absolutely, if you wish it." " Thank you. No good beating about the bush. The fact is I want to sell those f earls—the real ones, I mean. Not that 'm broke, npr near it; but I've some big deals on hand, and the thousands locked up. in 'em would come in very useful. I don't want my wife to know anything abdut it, or have any sort of a row—you kndw what women are, most of 'em. My daughter here's different, she's a woman of business, an' got- her head iicrewed on straight. We can carry the thing through quietly if Lady Pamela doesn't spot it. If she does—well, there'll be the devil to pay!" ...., "Those are quite good enough for her eny day!" interposed Lena Varick, the first words she had spoken during the eolloqny. Glancing at her, Mr.. Sintell mentally decided that she was as detestable as her father. - "So they are, but she won't think so," responded Varick. " Now, Mr. Sintell, can you find me a purchaser for tho real pearls? They're insured for twenty thou,' and are worth thirty, as you- know. Well, I'd take twenty-five thou' for 'em,' cash down." Sintell cogitated the proposition. '- It would not be easy. Money is tight in these days, you know," he said slowly. " The American market is the only one, and at llie moment I cannot bring* to mind any likely client,." " Suppose you wouldn't buy 'em yourself—as a spec—.and bide your time for • making e big profit—as you would, sooner or later? " suggested Varick. Sintell scarcely suppressed a start. In ■ some uncanny way this man iseemed to have read his thought. It was a big transaction, but he could well afford it; and to possess those pearls, even temporarily, was a great temptation. "T might do that," he said cautiously. 41 Where aro they now, Mr. Varick? " " Still at the where young Went--worth took them the day he came up from my little place at Hampshire." " The day after," Sintell corrected. " As we adviseo you, the train was laite, and we kept them'in.our strong room that night." "I remember. What a stickler, you aro for exactitude, Sintell. But there tliey are. I've got the receipt with me. Look here, if you can spare the time, come along and have a bit of lunch with us, and we'll talk the thing over quietly, and: : then go along to the bank and fetch them." " Thanks, I never eat lunch, but if you 'will get the pearls and bring them here, say about " ""Nonsense, man. Make an exception for once. No lunch no deal. That's an ultimatum! I'm as hungry as a huntsr, so's. ( Lena, I'll be bound. Had a bit of a racket last night"—he leered reminiseeijjtly—" at least, I did—can't answer for Lena—and hadn't any appetite for breakfast. So come on." Sintell raised no further objection. He had,'.not the least desire to lunch with his .visitors, but ho did want those pearls. Moreover, for several years-past Varick l'fid Veep one of their most important clients, spending thousands of pounds with the firm. Many of his purchases, as Sintell knew or suspected, had not been made for the adornment of his wife V cr daughter; but that, of course, was ' Varick's affair, riot his. " Pity Mr. Wentworth is not :in," Ltma : remarked, as they went out to the waiting liinfoi'-car. "He >might have joined uis." Jim- uttered a guffaw, and winked & f/ Sintell." ° A.

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So that s why you were so keen to come round with me to-day. I knew you'd something up your sleeve." . ''.P? 11 ' 1 ke a silly ass," retorted tho dutiful daughter, who. nevertheless, appeared pleased at the innuendo. He aud Lena fairly ' clicked' that night he came down to our little place," Varick continued facetiously— and mendaciously. " Don't know what they found to say to each other, for my girl's close-mouthed, for a woman, and Wentworth seems tho same. A nice lad, though, as I said. Now, what exactly is his position with you, Mr. Sintell ? " "He is my junior partner," said Sintell stiffly. "In fact, he and I constitute the firm since Mr. Lake died."

"Good business! Then I suppose you'll consult him about this proposed little deal with me 1 "

"Assuredly. I should not conduct such a transaction without doing so." There was no time for more as the car, having been slowly engineered through the traffic, drew up at the Ritz. They could have walked the distance in far less time, hut that would not have suited Mr. Rupert Varick. He boasted that he never so much as crossed the street on foot.

In the vestibule they encountered two mutual acquaintances, one a big, blonde man, whom Sintell knew as Mr. Bernard Moore, the other, whom he greeted cordially, Mr. Van Lennart, of Amsterdam, a diamond merchant whose fame was even greater than is own.

They chatted together for a minute or more, while Moore drew Varick aside and held a low-voiced colloquy with him, and Lena sat down and calmly proceeded to apply a powder-puff to hlr swarthy face. She looked keenly at heV father as he rejoined them, his face momentarily sullen, and an angry gleam in his beady, black eyes, signs of perturbation that his guest failed to notice.

By the time they reached the table reserved for them, ho had recovered himself, and resumed his boisterous air of hospitality. " Who was that foreign-looking old johnny with Mooro ? " he asked presently. " Forgot to ask Berny. I know his face, but can't place him. But you seem to know him."

"I do. He's i an old and intimate friend," said Sintell, whose manner had perceptibly thawed under the influence of the excellent wine. " He's Mr. Van Lennart, of Amsterdam." " The deuce he is! " exclaimed Varick. " The big diamond man ? " Sintell nodded.

" Diamonds are his speciality, though he's a connisseur of all germs; in fact, one of the two known experts in the trade."

"The other being?"' The old man smiled and fingered his glass. Varick grinned. " Come on, man; don't be so modest. Yourself, of course. I remember young Wentworth saying you wore, and that, for instance, you could identify every pearl in that rope of mine, and even if they Ay ere all unstrung and scattered."

Sintell shook ins head. " If he said that he was exaggerating. The -three big ones—yes. They are pedigree pearls, as you may remember I told you, with a history that goes back for centuries. I could pick them out from a thousand, and swear to their identity, if it. should be ten years or more before I see them again. But I could not be sure of the others—most of them."

"Is that so?" said Varick thoughtfully. "And if we are to get them to-day hadn't we better be going ? The bank closes at three," added Sintell. " Right you are—though it will only take us five minutes to get there," said his host.

It was close -on the hour when they reached the bank, where they had to wait for a few minutes, passed in chatting with the manager. Then, the precious package having been duly handed over, Varick tucked it under his arm, and they returned to the car. " Let's havo a look at the beauties," said Varick, as tho car slowly made its way through the traffic. Producing a, pen-knife he cut the string, tore off the sealed paper wrappings, and crumpling them into a ball, flung them out of the open window. He opened the case, stared at the contents, and uttered a sort of howl of dismay, while his swarthy face flushed purple, and his eyes seemed as if they would start from his head. The others leaned forward to look. Lena shrieked, Sintell ejaculated. The pearls were not there, but, in their place, neatly ranged on the pale blue velvet lining, were a number of little black objects—pieces of coal! CHAPTER V. AN ENIGMA. It was nearly five o'clock that afternoon when David returned to business, rathor wondering how he should account for . his. absence if it- had created comment. He hated subterfuge of any kind, but realised that ho might have to resort to it.

He dismissed Jennings and the car at the corner of Bond Street, and walked the rest of the distance, pausing at a pillar-box to post a letter to Varick which Pamela had entrusted to him. She had written it before she left her husband's house that morning. As he passed through the shop the senior assistant accosted him.

"Mr. Sintell has been asking for you, sir. Will you go to him at once?' He nodded, and went straight to the private room. Sintell was at the telephone and merely looked up in greeting. David saw by his expression that he was agitated, and wondered what had happened, "You'vo got it?" said Sintell into the telephone. "Capital! Then will you bring it along at once? Yes—Mr. Wentworth has just come in." He replaced the receiver and turned to David.

"At, last! Where on earth have you been ?"

"Sorry, sir. I had to go out—on private business, and was detained. Anything wrong?" "Wrong! I should just think there is! Lady Pamela Varick's pearl necklace—the one you were supposed to take to the bank—is missing—stolen!"' " What!" ejaculated David, sitting down heavily 111 his chair and staring in consternation at his partner. Rapidly Sintell recounted the circumstances of tho discovery.

"My first impulse was to get out of the car and go to look for tho wrappings Varick had thrown out of the window, but he wouldn't let me—forcibly restrained me, in fact. He was like a madman. We came back here, where he raved and stormed. So did that sinister young woman, his daughter. He demanded to see you, and, of course, you were out, no one knew where " David flushed, but fortunately Sintell, still seething with indignation, did not then stay to question him, but continued: "Then I'm hanged if he didn't make the most impudent and flagrant attempt at blackmail that I have ever experienced, and I've had a few. He swore that either you or I, or the pair of us, had stolen the pearls and that we should have to pay up heavily and on the nail, or stand the racket. I think he mentioned thirty thousand pounds as the modest figure." "Good heavens!" David murmured helplessly. "I can't tell you precisely all I said," Sintell resumed. "I've never been so furious in my life—never been so insulted. But I told him to prosecute and be damned; to go .straight to Scotland Yard and apply for a warrant, or to the insurance company. They'd investigate quick enough. '' "You should just have seen his face—and the woman's. They were murderous —nothing less. I cut the whole thing short by ringing for Simmons and .ordering him to 'show this lady and gentle man out.' They went, and at the door \ ; arick turned and spluttered: "All right, 111 going straight to the police.'. And

I said, 'Best thing you can do. Goodday.' "Well, when I'd simmered down a bit, I rang up the Yard myself, and was lucky enough to get on to Snell. We're old friends. Varick hadn't been there, and Snell sent a, man at once to search for the missing wrappings. He's just rung up to say he's got them already, apd is bringing them round at once. So now you know as much as I do. Pity you weren't here. By the way, where were you?" To David's immense relief he was again spared the necessity of an immediate reply, for the correspondence clerk entered with a number of letters for signature, and by the time they were through with these Mr. Snell, the detective, was announced. The neat, wiry, unassuming little man greeted them briefly, aud to business at once, fetching out of his pocket a parcel containing the brown paper, with the seals and dangling strings, in which tho jewel case had been wrapped. "One of our men happened to see it flung from the car window, and picked it up at once. Great luck!" he remarked. "The seals are crushed a bit, through being crumpled up, but they have not been tampered with otherwise. They re really of small importance, as only a plain initial die was used, R.V., and anyone could procure a similar one. " Now Mr. Went worth, suppose you tell me . the exact circumstances under which you received tho package?" That was easy enough, the whole scene came back vividly to David s mind, ineluding the incident of Varick burning his fingers with the sealing wax. Snell nodded. "That old trick. Changing tho parcels. I suppose ( there was a waste-paper basket handy ?" " There may have been, I didn t notice." ... " There was. He dropped the case with the pearls in, and picked up the other, put there in readiness." " No. The girl, Miss Varick, picked it up. I remember seeing her do it." " Then she was in it, too. But the mysterious thing is why they did it?' It s been done lots of times, but by crooks. In this instance the pearls were his own, or his wife's, which is the same thing—to do what he liked with. Wonder if Lady Pamela knew anything about it ? " " I'm sure she didn't," said David hastily, and felt _ himself flushing again under the detective's calm, penetrating gaze. " Well, what's to be done ? " asked Sintell impatiently. "Nothing," said Snell. "There's no case at all at present." "No case! " remonstrated the angry old man. " When the scoundrel tried to blackmail me to the tune of thirty thousand pounds?" Snell shook his head, and smiled enigmatically. " My dear sir, that's nothing to go on, nothing whatever at present. He was angry and upset —or appeared to bo so. But if he had the idea of blackmail in his mind he's evidently a new hand at the game, or he wouldn't have tried it on so crudely. As for the pearls themselves —well a man, can do what ho likes with his own property. If he chooses, say, to sell them, after having had them copied, and to deposit some bits of coal .in his bank for safe-keeping, that's his affair entirely, so far as it goes. All you can do is to await developments, if any. If he should repeat his accusation against you or Mr. Wentworth —or if he tries to get the insurance money—well, there will Be developments." " Then we can't do anything to bring the scoundrel to book?" " Nothing at all at this stage. You could raise a scandal, of course, but I shouldn't if I were you! " " You're quite right, Mr. Snell,'' said David hastily, " The only do is to wait." " Shouldn't wonder if you had an explanation from his soon," Snell remarked. " And should be interested to know what it is." "I'll let | you know, of course. But what possible explanation could there be? " " There's always one—of sorts —for everything," said the detective. Scarcely had he departed when the telephone again rang. , Sintell answered. " Yes. Mr. Sintell speaking. By all means, we are naturally anxious to give every information. Yes, Mr. Wentworth is here, and we will both wait for your representative. Kindly ask him to ring tfye housekeper's bell, as the premises will be closed. He will come at once, of .course? Thanks!" "Who is it?" asked David. " ThO insurance office. Varick has been there to report the loss," said the old man grimly. "So we haven't had to wait long for developments. Glad we hadn't gone, for tho sooner the thing's threshed out the better. 1 hope he won't keep us waiting long, for I feel thoroughly done up. Well, well! Now how about this business of yours ? " " Business ? " David echoed, really not understanding the question for the moment. " Yes—that took you, off for so long to-day. Anything important I'' " Oh, I see. I'm very sorry, sir—l never for a moment expected to be so long, but it was quite unavoidable. It was private business —for a friend —and— I'm afraid that's all I can say about it," he answered confusedly. For a moment he was tempted to tell his partner the exact truth, but as swiftly decided that he could not do so. This astounding matter of the pearls could have no connection with Pamela's flight, or even, if it, had —and that seemed inconceivable to him—all the more reason why he must' keep her secret—at least, until after he had seen or heard jfroin her again. Sintell stared at him with angry suspicion. '' More mysteries? Oh, well, keep your own counsel, of course. I don't want to pry into your private affairs. I only hope thero's not a woman in it." David flushed and bit his lip, but made no response. He felt horribly embarrassed, almost as if he had indeed com rnitted a crime. Btie he -could not and did not resent the old man's attitude. There had been such full confidence between them hitherto, alike in business and personal matters. Sintell broke the strained, uncomfortable silence by suggesting that, as the staff had gone, David had better see the caretaker and instruct him to admit tho insurance official when ho came. He hurried out, glad to escape, and lingered, chatting with the man till the expected visitor arrived, a suave, inscrutable individual whom he at once conducted to the sanctum. Punctiliously polite, to Sintell especially, whose unimpeachable reputation was well known to him, this Mr. Rivers listened attentively to their, respective stories, as Snell bad done, making copious notes, but no comments, and only putone or two questions. " You are sure the pearls were in the case when it was handed to you, Mr. Wentworth, by—" he referred to his notes—" Lady Pamela Varick ? " . " Absolutely certain," said David emphatically. " And there were only you four in tho room, you, the two ladies and Mr Varick ? " " Quite sure." " Had you any travelling companions ?" " None. I had the compartment to myself, a first-class smoker, the whole way, came straight here as I told you, and put the case in the strong room." "I saw him do that," put in Sintell " The strong room can only be opened bv the two of us." " Quite so. Then you can swear that the case was never out of your possession from the time you received it till you placed it in the strong room ? " " I can. It was never out of mv pocket—an inner pocket made for the pur pose of carrying such valuables. I've a similar one in this suit if you'd like to see it." " Not at all necessary, thannk you, Mr. Wentworth," said the urbane Rivers. Weil, I think that's all we can do at present. Good-night, gentlemen." He took himself off, hailed a taxi, and drove to Varick's flat.

CHAPTER VL FATHER AND DAUGHTER, After their dismissal by the indignant Sinte.ll, Rupeit Varick and his daughter drove first to Kniglitsbridge, where he left Lena, outside the block in which their spacious flat was situated. They scarcely exchanged a word on the way, for Lena, after her vituperation of the jeweller, sat in speechless, whitelipped wrath, her father in sdowling thought. "What's the next move?" she demanded curtly, as the car pulled up. " Are you going to the police ? " " Don't know. Must think it over. See the insurance people first, anyhow," he muttered.

She gave him a keen, side-long glance from her sinister, angry, black eyes, so like his own. " Am I to tell her anything if she's in ? " she asked. She seldom alluded to Pamela by name, but he knew whom she meant.

" Please yourself. She'll have to know sooner or later, of course. I'll get back as early as 1 can." It was some hours before he returned, to find Lena awaiting him with more disquieting news. " She hasn't come in yet. She went out alone this morning, nobody knows where—" " Pamela ? " "Of course, who else could 1 mean." " Had she any engagements ? " " Not that I know of. And the only person who seems to have seen her is Brooks, my maid. She had been round to Harrods for me, and on the way she saw her, Pamela, walking on the other side, carrying a dressing bag or something, and wearing an old blue tailormade. Brooks says she hardly knew her for a moment, but she's quite sure it was she."

" What's her own maid say? " he demanded, his face and manner showing extraordinary perturbation. " She's out, too. Got a day's holiday. Look here, did she know you were going to get those pearls from the bank, or thought you were ? " "No. I never said a word to anyone but vou." " Well, 1 believe she's bolted." "Don't talk like a fool! " he snarlecj, his coarse face Hushing,and purple veins starting up ominously,, on his forehead. 'Why the devil should she bolt?" " You know better than I do," she said, significantly, " You had another row with her last night. I know that. ,What was it about?' ' Never you mind. It's none of your business. She gave me more of the airs and graces she's been showing off for months now, ever since we went abroad. And I—well I let her know. I wasn't going to stand it any longer, and I'm not!"

" Wonder you've stood it so long,' aneered Lena. "You did a nice thing when you married an earl's daughter, young enough to be your own, without a rag to her back oi a penny to her pocket. Who's she gone off with ? For she hasn't gone alone Berny Moore ?" " No. I know that much."

"Do you!" persisted Lena. 1 wouldn't b( tco surt if 1 were you. For you know quite well what was going on. at Nice especially, after he followed us out there. He didn't lose much time. And it seemed to me that you were encouraging—"

She broke off, even her audacity quailing befox-e his expression. She ciid not ordinarily fear her father, as most other people did, when he was in one of his black moods, but she feared him now.

He started up, gripping her fiercely by the shouldei's, and strongly-built woman as she was, shook her violently. "Father—let go! Are you mad ?" she cried. ,

He flung her from him rather than released her, so suddenly that she fell back into an easy chair and lay there, panting, trembling, glaring at him.

" Well, keep your tongue still. Haven't I enough to exasperate me without your nagging?" he said, in a savage undertone, that, nevertheless, betrayed an apologetic note. "I tell you I'm nearly off my head. If she had gone off with Moore I —I should know where I stood, and should know how to act. But she hasn't. If she really has gone off—and if she does anything rash—as she might do—" You don't mean—kill herself ?" filtered Lena. "

" She might do, there's no knowing. But if she' caused any scandal now, in any way, it would moan ruin, utter ruin, for me—foi us!'\ *

"Ruin! Howl Why?" gasped Lena.

He did not answer immediately, but paced the room restlessly, gnawing at his finger-nails, while she watched him, racking her brains to discover his meaning.

She' knew his complicated financial affairs were temporarily embarrassed, that he had lost heavily of late on several big and reckless speculations, as, indeed, lie had frankly told Sintell in her presence, but how could the absence of her young step-mqthei make any difference one way or the' other ? She regarded Pamela rilerely as an expensive toy that her father had chosen to indulge in, to play with so long as it pleased him, to break and cast aside when bo tired of it.

She knew he had tired of the toy, and ■watched for manv weeks, and secretlyl gloated over, his increasing brutality in private, and, though sho hated Pamela with the deadly hatred of an enVious, coarse-mindea woman for one whom shtf> knew ,to be her superior, one who outshone her in every way indeed, in a capacity foi business, sho had sometimes marvelled at her endurance, at the gay courage with which she masked her agony from the eyes of the world. She had watched of late, knowing that the breaking point must bo reached at last, cynically, believing that her father would welcome the, chance of obtaining his freedom Therefore, his present distress astonished and perplexed her beyond measure.

Presently he halted before her, having regained some degree of composure. " You forget this—this theft. She's our chief witness. We- can't do without her. Rivers of th insurance office, is coming along to see her this evening. We can put him off tor the moment, of course. But sujSposf she doesn't come back ? Suppose wf can't find her and bring her back ? What's to be done ?"

"The pearls!" exclaimed Lena. For the moment she had almost forgotten them.

He made a swift gesture admonishing silence, as the door opened and .a manservant entered with letters and a card on a small salve'*

" The gentleman is waiting, sir," he said, indicating the card. " Very good/ said Variek. " Tell him 1 am engaged for tne .moment, but will see him ir. a ven iew minutes. Bring him in when I ring." He passed Mr Rivers' card to Lena, hastily turned ovt-i the letters, uttered a low exclaraatior as he recognised Pamela's handwriting, and tore the envelope open. " It's from her V breathed Lena. He nodded glowered over the few lines, and passed it to her. " I hav? left you. taking nothing of yours with m» "I shall never return to you. " Pamela." " Posteo in Bond Street this afternoon," he muttered, examining the postmark. ' Well, that puts the lid on. Where's shf gone What's to be done?" (To be continued on Saturday