"The thief is certainly a member of Lady Lydiard's household," this functionary remarked, in his politely-positive way.

"If her Ladyship persists in refusing to let us make the necessary inquiries, our hands are tied, and the case comes to an end through no fault of ours.

If her Ladyship changes her mind, perhaps you will drop me a line, sir, to that effect.

Good-morning." So the experiment of consulting the police came to an untimely end.
The one result obtained was the expression of purblind opinion by the authorities of the detective department which pointed to Isabel, or to one of the servants, as the undiscovered thief.

Thinking the matter over in the retirement of his own office--and not forgetting his promise to Isabel to leave no means untried of establishing her innocence--Mr.Troy could see but one alternative left to him.