Thus encouraged Anstice again outlined the plan he had formerly suggested--that a watch should be set during the night; but, as he had half expected, Chloe did not give it her unqualified approval.
"No, Dr. Anstice." She spoke too gently to cause him offence. "I don't think, honestly, I like the idea. Can't I speak openly, ask her quite plainly why she has done this thing--what perverted notion of--well, resentment she has against me which would lead her to act in this manner?"
To Anstice's relief Major Carstairs vetoed this plan, unhesitatingly.
"No, Chloe, that is an absolutely impossible suggestion! As Dr. Anstice says, guile must be met with guile, and the only way to catch this woman is to take her absolutely red-handed. And if, as you seem to think, she is likely to creep down in the night--well, it could do no harm to set a watch."
"There is one reason against that delightfully simple plan of yours," objected Chloe. "Tochatti would not be likely to write any more of these letters with you in the house, Leo. You see, it would be very serious for her if you encountered her at my writing-table in the night!"
Before Carstairs could reply Anstice spoke rather diffidently.
"I have just one suggestion to make, Major Carstairs. Am I right in supposing you are staying down here to-night?"
A fleeting embarrassment was visible on the faces of both Major Carstairs and his wife; but the former answered resolutely: "Yes. I am certainly hoping to stay here."
"Well, if I might just make a suggestion, why not give out that you are returning to town to-night and coming down to stay to-morrow or the next day? Tochatti would probably, thinking this her last opportunity, make haste to seize it and write another letter or two--possibly the last--to-night."
"You mean give out that I am returning to town to-night; start, in fact, in reality, and come back later, when the house is quiet?"
"Yes," said Anstice, wondering what the soldier thought of his amateur strategy. "Then you--and anyone else you choose--could sit up here and wait events."
"I admire the simplicity of your plan, Dr. Anstice," returned Carstairs with an irrepressible laugh. "I've been called upon to exercise diplomacy at times myself, but I don't think I ever hit on anything more telling in the way of a plan than this charmingly simple one of yours!"
"You approve of it, then?" Anstice was in no wise offended by the other's mirth.