Only as she spoke did she realise that she was awake and no longer dreaming and with an effort she sat up with her legs still on the seat.
Then the Marquis sat down in the space that was now available.
“I thought I would find you here,” he began.
“How – how could you have – thought that?” Odela asked.
Then she gave a little cry.
“You have – saved the picture? Fred Cotter has not – disposed of it?”
“Thanks to you,” the Marquis replied in his deep voice. “I discovered the portrait in Cotter’s house and it is now back in its proper place in the library.”
Odela gave a deep sigh of relief.
“I am so – glad.”
“How could you have known, how could you have guessed that it was being stolen?” the Marquis quizzed her.
For a moment Odela hesitated.
Then she smiled and the Marquis thought tha
