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THE VANITY BOX
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we can't be separated. I can't live without you. I always thought so. I know it now. That's one thing I wanted to tell you again to-night—but it's not why I sent for you. Sir Ian is here."

"Here, in this hotel!"

"Yes. It was a surprise to Miss Ricardo, and to him to find us. But here he is. It can't be he has found out anything about you, and has been following?"

"Impossible," said Ian Barr. "Besides, he would do nothing."

"He might. How can we tell? He knows you are suspected. Anything to save himself, perhaps!"

"You don't know him!"

"Do you know him, Ian? After that day——"

"Mr. Ian Barr, I believe," said an English voice, with a slight French roll of the "r's," speaking close to the lovers.

They started apart, and saw a small, slight figure step out from the shelter of the flower-draped rock.

"It's useless saying you're Giuseppe Verdi, for everything's known, and the game's up," went on the voice, that had a note of triumph in it. "You'd better not——"

"Run!" advised the girl, sharply.

"If he does I'll shoot," said the little man. "S'il vous plaît, Messieurs!" He raised his tone, and two men in the uniform of French police appeared at the turn of the path.