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THE RED SEAL
Kent。
〃No； everything seemed in order。〃 Ferguson thrust his hand inside
his coat pocket。 〃There was one envelope in the right hand compartment
which puzzled me …〃
〃Hold on … was that compartment also unlocked？〃 asked Kent。
〃It was；〃 not giving Kent time to speak again Ferguson continued his
remarks。 〃As this was unaddressed I brought it to you； Mr。 Kent； to ask
if it was your personal property〃 … he drew out the white envelope which
Helen McIntyre had brought Kent that morning and turned it over so that
both men could see the large red seal bearing the letter 〃B。〃
〃It is my property；〃 asserted Kent instantly。
〃Would you mind opening it？〃 asked Ferguson。
〃I would； most certainly； it relates to my personal affairs。〃
Ferguson looked a trifle non…plussed。 〃Would you mind telling me its
contents； Mr。 Kent？〃 he asked persuasively。
Kent regarded the detective squarely。 He could not betray Helen； the
envelope might contain harmless nonsense； but she had placed it in his
safe…keeping … no； confound it； she had left it in the safe for Rochester …
and Rochester was apparently a fugitive from justice； while circumstantial
evidence pointed to his having poisoned Helen's lover； Jimmie。。。
〃If you must know； Ferguson；〃 Kent spoke with deliberation。 〃They
are old love letters of mine。〃
Clymer glanced down at the envelope which the detective still held；
the red seal making a distinct blotch of color on the white； glazed surface。
〃Ah； Kent；〃 he said in amusement。 〃So rumor is right in predicting
your engagement to Barbara McIntyre。 Good luck to you！〃
Through the open doorway to the dining room where the dancing had
ceased for the moment； came a soft laugh and Mrs。 Brewster looked in at
them。 McIntyre； standing like her shadow； gazed in curiosity over her
shoulder at the three men。
〃How jolly to find you；〃 cooed Mrs。 Brewster。 〃And what a
charming retreat！ It's much too nice to be occupied by men； only。〃 She
inclined her head in a little gracious bow to Ferguson and stepped inside。
〃Have my chair；〃 suggested Clymer hospitably as the pretty widow
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THE RED SEAL
raised her lorgnette and scanned the Oriental hangings and lamps； and
lastly； the white envelope which lay on the table； red seal uppermost；
where Ferguson had placed it on her entrance。
〃Are your daughters here； Colonel McIntyre？〃 asked Kent as he took a
step toward the table。 McIntyre's answer was drowned in an outburst of
cheering in the dining room and the rush of many feet。 On common
impulse Kent and the others turned toward the doorway and looked inside
the dining room。 Two officers of the French High Commission were
being held on the shoulders of comrades and were delivering； as best they
could amidst cheers and applause； their farewell to hospitable Washington。
As his companions brushed by him to join the gay throng in the center
of the room； Kent turned back to pick up the envelope he had left lying on
the table。 It was gone。
In feverish haste Kent looked under the table； under the chairs； the
lounge and its cushions； behind the draperies； and even under the rugs
which covered the floor of the porch； and then rose and stared into the
dining room。 Which one of his companions had taken the envelope？
Outside the porch the beautiful trumpet vine； its sturdy trunk and thick
branches reaching almost to the roof of the club building； rustled as in a
high wind； and the branches swayed this way and that as a figure climbed
swiftly down from the porch until； reaching the fence separating the club
property from its neighbor's； the man swung across it； no mean athletic
feet； and taking advantage of each sheltering shadow； darted into the alley
and from there down silent； deserted Nineteenth Street。
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THE RED SEAL
CHAPTER XI
HALF A TRUTH
Dancing was being resumed in the dining room as Kent appeared
again in the doorway and he made his way as quickly as possible among
the couples； going into all the rooms on that floor； but nowhere could he
find Detective Ferguson。 On emerging from the drawing room； he
encountered the steward returning from downstairs。
〃Have you seen Mr。 Clymer？〃 he asked hurriedly。
〃Yes； Mr。 Kent； he just left the club； taking Detective Ferguson with
him in his motor。 Is there anything I can do？〃 added the steward
observing Kent's agitation。
〃No； no； thanks。 Say； where is Colonel McIntyre？〃 Kent gave up
further pursuit of the detective； he could find him later at Headquarters。
The steward looked among the dancers。 〃I don't see him；〃 he said； 〃But
there is Mrs。 Brewster dancing in the front room； the Colonel must be
somewhere around。 If I meet him； Mr。 Kent； shall I tell him you are
looking for him？〃
〃I will be greatly obliged if you will do so；〃 replied Kent； and
straightening his tie； he went in quest of the pretty widow。 He had found
her a merry chatter…box in the past； possibly he could gain valuable
information from her。 He found Mrs。 Brewster just completing her dance
with a fine looking Italian officer whose broad breast bore many military
decorations。
〃Dance the encore with me〃 … Kent could be very persuasive when he
wished； and Mrs。 Brewster dimpled with pleasure； but there was a faint
indecision in her manner which he was quick to note。 What prompted it？
He had been on friendly terms with her； in fact； she had openly
championed his cause； so Barbara had once told him； when Colonel
McIntyre had made caustic remarks about his frequent calls at the
McIntyre house。
〃Just one turn；〃 she said； as the foreigner bowed and withdrew。 〃I am
feeling a little weary to…night … the strain of the inquest；〃 she； added in
explanation。