“It’s very cold this morning,” Carina said. “Is everyone still in bed?”

“Most of the gentlemen left by the early train,” Newman answered. “You see, miss, they were all the pleasure-seeking kind and don’t care for any uncomfortableness.”

Carina prevented herself from smiling at the quaint word.

“Perhaps they were wise,” she said.

“His Lordship certainly did not press them to stay,” Newman said. “If you ask me, miss, he was glad to get rid of them.”

He glanced at the clock.

“The rest, Colonel Wakeford and two others, will be going back immediately after luncheon.”

“Will you please arrange for the Prince and me to have luncheon upstairs?' Carina said.

“I have already done so,” Newman answered. “I felt, miss, that you would not wish to be involved in any talk.”

“No, of course not,” Carina smiled. “Thank you, Newman.”

She hesitated a moment and the butler said,

“I should see his Lordship now if I was you, miss. There will be nobody disturbing him for half an hour at any rate.”

Carina did as he suggested.

She walked across the hall to the library, opened the door and saw that Lord Lynche was sitting at the desk, but he was not writing.

His head was in his hands and he appeared to her to be a man crushed by worry and despair. It was only a quick impression.

He turned his head as she entered and jumped hastily to his feet.

“Carina!” he exclaimed. “I was thinking of you.”

“I came to show you what your mother has given me for trying to kill Sir Percy,” Carina said. “I did not want to hurt her feelings by refusing it. It is something that eventually, of course, must belong to you, so I am asking you to put it somewhere safe.”

She opened the case as she spoke and showed the necklace to him.

“You have made quite a hit with my mother, haven’t you?” Lord Lynche said. “Keep it, Carina. It’s hers to give and she will want you to wear it.”

“But it is too much – too magnificent,” Carina protested. “You know that I cannot accept such a gift.”

“Why not?”

“One does not expect rewards for attempted murder,” Carina answered.

“Every farmer is duty bound to kill vermin – ”

“But I am not a farmer,” Carina interrupted, “and I know now that I was wrong – utterly wrong.”

“And yet out of evil has come good,” Lord Lynche said. “Percy will never play cards again and, because of what Colonel Wakeford has found out, he will be forced to leave the country. My lawyer has already left for London to settle up the affairs of those he has cheated. He will give Percy an ultimatum. Either to be taken to the Courts or to leave England for good, never to return. There is no doubt which course he will take.”

“So we are free, then, for ever?” Carina said.