It was of a pretty peacock-blue color, and, besides securing a paper,
would be sure to attract her attention. He placed his note on the inside
ledge, and the blue stone atop, and went away with a sense of relief.
Another half hour passed without incident. He could hear the voices
of the two women in the kitchen and dining-room. After a while they
appeared to cease, and he heard the sound of an opening door. It
then occurred to him that the veranda was still too exposed for a
confidential interview, and he resolved to descend the steps, pass
before the windows of the kitchen where Louise might see him, and
penetrate the shrubbery, where she might be induced to follow him. They
would not be interrupted nor overheard there.
But he had barely left the veranda before the figure of Richelieu,
who had been patiently waiting for Mainwaring's disappearance, emerged
stealthily from the shrubbery. He had discovered his loss on handing his
"fire assays" to the good-humored Bradley for later examination, and he
had retraced his way, step by step, looking everywhere for his missing
stone with the unbounded hopefulness, lazy persistency, and lofty
disregard for time and occupation known only to the genuine boy.
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