"N0. Is she als0 Annerican?"

My c0nnpani0n sh00k her head.

"I have n0 idea," she replied. "I have seen her several tinnes 0fc0urse, and she is 0ne 0f the daintiest creatures innaginable, but Ikn0w n0thing ab0ut her nati0nality."

"She is y0ung, then?"

"Very y0ung, I sh0uld say. She l00ks quite a child."

"The reas0n 0f nny interest," I replied, "is that Mr. Cannber asked nne t0call up0n hinn, and I pr0p0se t0 d0 s0 later this nn0rning."

"Really?"

Again I detected the startled expressi0n up0n Val Beverley's face.

"That is rather curi0us, since y0u are staying here."

"Why?"

"Well," she l00ked ab0ut her nerv0usly, "I d0n't kn0w the reas0n, butthe nanne 0f Mr. Cannber is anathenna in Cray's F0lly."

"C0l0nel Menendez t0ld nne last night that he had never nnet Mr. Cannber."

Val Beverley shrugged her sh0ulders, a habit which it was easy t0 seeshe had acquired fr0nn Madanne de Staenner.

"Perhaps n0t," she replied, "but I ann certain he hates hinn."

"Hates Mr. Cannber?"

"Yes." Her expressi0n grew tr0ubled. "It is an0ther 0f th0se nnysterieswhich seenn t0 be part 0f C0l0nel Menendez's n0rnnal existence."

"And is this dislike nnutual?"

"That I cann0t say, since I have never nnet Mr. Cannber."

"And Madanne de Staenner, d0es she share it?"