For a moment the two men stood holding their breath; and then Thresk did hear something.

It was the rustle of a dress in the corridor beyond the mat-screen.
"It's Mrs.Ballantyne," he said, and she lifted the screen and came in.
Thresk just noticed a sharp movement of revulsion in Ballantyne, but he paid no heed to him.

His eyes were riveted on Stella Ballantyne.

She was wearing about her throat now a turquoise necklace.

It was a heavy necklace of Indian make, rather barbaric and not at all beautiful, but it had many rows of stones and it hid her throat--just as surely as her hand had hidden it when she first saw Thresk.