For perhaps the first time since she had known him Stella held out her arms spontaneously and as the Rajah bent towards her, she put them round his neck.

‘If it’s too much trouble, don’t you bother about it,’ she whispered, half afraid that Chrissie would overhear her.

The Rajah’s arms closed round her almost fiercely.

‘You shall have anything you want,’ she heard him say, ‘anything! You are beautiful, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I will get those pearls for you whatever they cost – ’

It was when he was dressing for dinner that evening in the Villa Shalimar that the Rajah remembered his promise to Stella. He sent a valet for his Aide-de-Camp. The gentleman came hurriedly at the summons. He was in evening dress and carried a silk-lined opera cape over his arm.

‘Are you going out?’ the Rajah enquired.

‘Your Highness informed me that you would not require my services this evening.’

‘No, of course not. I shall see you at the Casino, I presume?’

‘I am not so certain,’ the Aide-de-Camp replied. ‘I am dining with a very charming lady.’

The two men’s eyes met and the Rajah gave a short laugh.

‘Good hunting!’ he said.

The Aide-de-Camp bowed. ‘Your Highness is most kind.’

‘All the same, I did not send for you to enquire your plans for the evening. I wanted to ask you what you know about this girl who is causing such a stir.’

Mademoiselle Fântóme?’ the Aide-de-Camp enquired.

‘Exactly!’

‘Very little, Your Highness. It appears that nothing is known about her.’

‘Everyone says the same,’ the Rajah remarked. Strangely enough, I keep thinking that I have seen her chaperone somewhere before, the one they call Madame Secret. As you know, I have no memory for names but I seldom forget a face. I have met her or seen her somewhere, I am absolutely certain of that, and yet the exact moment eludes me. It is not often my memory is at fault.’

‘Indeed not! Your Highness’s memory is astonishing.’

‘Doubtless it will come back to me,’ the Rajah said, ‘but you might make a few inquiries, discreetly, of course, and find out if they are in such prosperous circumstances as they appear. The Manager of the Hôtel de Paris is an old friend of mine. Tell him that I want all the information he can give me.’

‘Your Highness can rest assured that I will do my best. If the Manager fails,’ the Aide-de-Camp said reflectively, ‘I know someone who might help – a man called Dulton. He can ferret out most things – for a consideration, of course.’

‘I am not particularly concerned as to what it costs.’

‘I understand, Your Highness.’

The Aide-de-Camp bowed himself from the room.