CHAPTER Sixteen THE WOMAN WITH THE RED HAT.
'THERE is one thing, Prince, that we have just got to settle straight off,' said Theodore Racksole.
They were all three seated--Racksole, his daughter, and Prince Aribert--round a dinner table in a private room at the Hotel Wellington.
Racksole had duly arrived by the afternoon boat, and had been met on the quay by the other two.

They had dined early, and Racksole had heard the full story of the adventures by sea and land of Nella and the Prince.

As to his own adventure of the previous night he said very little, merely explaining, with as little detail as possible, that Dimmock's body had come to light.
'What is that ?' asked the Prince, in answer to Racksole's remark.
'We have got to settle whether we shall tell the police at once all that has occurred, or whether we shall proceed on our own responsibility.
There can be no doubt as to which course we ought to pursue.

Every consideration of prudence points to the advisability of taking the police into our confidence, and leaving the matter entirely in their hands.' 'Oh, Papa!' Nella burst out in her pouting, impulsive way.

'You surely can't think of such a thing.