"Meet me at the Casino gate. Same time. Have found it necessary to change meeting place."
"Some one in a domino," he replied, turning away.
"Just 'take this note to room 601 and give it to the lady there.'"
"It's from the count," and, satisfied, she reentered the room.
Meanwhile, Ruth, forgetting Maud Warren, searched frantically for her father. In and out of corridors, smoking and supper rooms, ball room, verandas, and garden she hurried. The recollection of Maud returned, however, when over the hum of talk and laughter the strains of the "Marseillaise" floated out.
"In honor of De Sonde," thought Ruth contemptuously.
Some one began to sing, and the place soon rang with the notes of the stirring French song. People began throwing confetti, and the air was flecked with the bright-colored stuff. It was midnight.
No one noticed two red dominos, each accompanied by one in black, steal from different doors of the hotel and disappear in the dark.
Ruth finally found her father standing in a doorway, talking to a little red domino.
"Father! I overheard Mr. Duval and some accomplices planning to rob the countess of a valuable paper to-night! Do send help at once!"
"Paper! Oh, Mr. Stuart, it must be the one the countess entrusted to me," and Mollie pulled from her bosom a chamois bag.
Mr. Stuart took a paper from the bag and glanced through it. Only a few minutes later he and four officers were speeding toward the villa of the countess.
Meanwhile, Miss Stuart and Barbara had been assisted into an automobile waiting at the east entrance. As they neared the station Barbara became nervous. Was the chauffeur a confederate of the plotters or had he been hired to make the run knowing nothing of the details?
Before the car had come to a full stop the count leaped out and turned to help his companions alight. Barbara leaned forward and said sharply to the chauffeur:
"Return at once to the hotel without the gentleman. Ask no questions. You will be answerable to Mr. Stuart for any treachery."
The car disappeared in the darkness, leaving the count dancing and gesticulating in anger.
When Mr. Stuart and the officers entered the drawing room of the countess's villa they saw the old man who had before menaced the two women standing threateningly in front of them. Behind him was another man, evidently ready to respond to any command of the old man.