Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/293

are you not on beach? That is place for youth at this hour?”

Diana shrugged. “What’s the beach without a man? And there aren’t enough to go round, evidently.”

“A situation rare in your neighborhood, I will wager,” Charlie smiled.

“Oh, a change does us all good.” She watched him as he stood there, looking impatiently about the room. “What are you going to do now? I’m so thrilled by all this——”

“Now, I am going to be unbearably rude,” he replied. “I find myself in uncredible position of wanting to dispense with your company. Will you kindly wait on the lanai?”

She pouted. “I hoped you were going to ask me to help you.”

“In such charming company as yours, I fear I could not keep mind on work.” He held open the French window. “As a very great favor, please——”

With obvious reluctance she went out, and he closed the window after her. He did not wish to appear undignified in the presence of a witness, and it was his intention now to be undignified indeed. He turned on all the lights in the room and with some difficulty, got down on his knees. Taking a magnifying-glass from his pocket, he began a close scrutiny of the highly polished floor wherever it was uncovered by rugs.

For a long time he crept about, until his knees ached. But he did not mind that, for his efforts were richly rewarded. Here and there he encountered numerous little scratches which had been, without doubt, recently made. He breathed hard, and his black eyes shone with satisfaction.