“You would, Jimmy dear,” said Loraine. “It was easy enough to deceive you.”

“Thank you for these kind words,” said Jimmy. “Go on, and don’t mind me.”

“When you rang up and said there might be danger, I was more determined than ever,” went on Loraine. “I went to Harrods and I bought a pistol. Here it is.”

She produced the dainty weapon, and Superintendent Battle took it from her and examined it.

“Quite a deadly little toy, Miss Wade,” he said. “Have you had much⁠—er⁠—practice with it?”

“None at all,” said Loraine. “But I thought if I took it with me⁠—well, that it would give me a comforting feeling.”

“Quite so,” said Battle gravely.