To be sure,” murmured Colonel Beetham.

His eyes bright as buttons in the subdued light, Charlie Chan watched Sir Frederic being presented to the ladies - to Mrs. Tupper-Brock and Eileen Enderby. Paradise arrived with something on a tray.

“All here except Miss Garland,” Kirk announced. “We’ll wait just a moment.” The bell rang, and he motioned to his servant that he would go.

When Kirk returned, he was accompanied by a handsome woman whose face was flushed and who carried some burden in her jeweled hands. She hurried to a table, and deposited there a number of loose pearls.

“I had the most ridiculous accident on the stairs,” she explained. “The string of my necklace broke, and I simply shed pearls right and left. I do hope I haven’t lost any.”

One of the pearls rolled to the floor, and Kirk retrieved it. The woman began counting them off into a gold mesh handbag. Finally she stopped.

“Got them all?” Barry Kirk inquired.

“I - I think so. I never can remember the number. And now - you really must forgive my silly entrance. It would be rather effective on the stage, I fancy, but I’m not on the stage now. In real life, I’m afraid it was rather rude.”

Paradise took her cloak, and Kirk introduced her. Charlie Chan studied her long and carefully. She was no longer young, but her beauty was still triumphant. It would have to be, for her profession was the stage, and she was well-beloved in the Australian theaters.

At the table, Charlie found himself at Mrs. Kirk’s right, with June Morrow on his other side. If he was a bit awed by the company in which he had landed, he gave no sign. He listened to several anecdotes of Sally Jordan’s past from Mrs. Kirk, then turned to the girl beside him. Her eyes were shining.

“I’m thrilled to the depths,” she whispered. “Sir Frederic and that marvelous Beetham man all in one evening - and you, too.”

Chan smiled. “I am pretty lonely fly in this menagerie of lions,” he admitted.

“Tell me - that about being psychic. You don’t really think Sir Frederic has found Eve Durand?”

Chan shrugged. “For one word a man may be adjudged wise, and for one word he may be adjudged foolish.”

“Oh, please don’t be so Oriental. Just think - Eve Durand may be at this table tonight.”

“Strange events permit themselves the luxury of occurring,” Chan conceded. His eyes traveled slowly about the board, they rested on Mrs. Tupper-Brock silent and aloof, on the vivacious Eileen Enderby, longest of all on the handsome Gloria Garland, now completely recovered from her excitement over the scattered pearls.

“Tell me, Sir Frederic,” remarked Mrs. Kirk. “How are you making out here in Barry’s womanless Eden?”

“Splendidly,” smiled the detective.