"For the moment Watson, we would do better to keep this information to ourselves."

"Of course, Holmes." Although I hadn't a clue. The box seemed like an ordinary box. Small and squarish with a bit of white fluff in the bottom.

"My reputation is such I would be obliged, Watson, if you would be so good as to keep this with your things in your room. Mine is no longer a safe haven."

"Of course."

I was just returning from my quarters when the door burst open and a vision in black and white rushed in.

"Oh Mr. Holmes," she looked from one to the other of us and settled on my friend just rising in acknowledgment. "Oh, Mr. Holmes. Please, you must help my bro..."

"There you are dear, what Mr. Holmes and, er, Mr. Watson, I do believe it's Mr. Watson is it not. What they must think of us bursting in like that. Really Ellyn. I should have known better than to let you come along."

We looked from one to the other. Both taller than fashionable, both dark, nay I'd say black, of hair and blue of eyes. She at the bloom of youth and Lord Haversmith, dare I say it, still in his prime. Both, I think, a force to be reckoned with. It looked to be a highly dramatic evening.

"I do beg your pardon, gentlemen." With not the least sign that the words were anything more than a formality. "My daughter is not normally this distraught. It's this affair with the tiara. It's entirely upset all of us."

"Quite, quite, Lord Haversmith," my companion's voice soothing the situation. "Do compose yourself and be seated. Here's a chair or, of course, the divan if you'd rather. I'll ring for some tea."

"If you don't mind," his lordship interrupted, "I'd rather something a little stronger than tea. It's been a most trying twenty hours I assure you."

"Certainly, sir." Holmes was being his most congenial self. Something was afoot although I had not yet seen anything like a clue in the conversation to date. "Watson, would you be so good as to ring Mrs. Hudson for tea and bring a decanter from the tantalus on the bookshelf."

Finally settled with tea and Lord Haversmith's stronger version, Holmes and I sat back and waited patiently. We did not need to wait long.

Lord Haversmith looked to his daughter and began, "I think we should begin with the process of getting ready for the ball. Ellyn, here, and her mother had gone upstairs after tea to prepare for the ball. Marsha, my wife, wanted to take a short nap before hand so I returned to my study afterwards."

"Father, Mr. Holmes may want to know about the household staff. The people with the most opportunity."

"Now dear, I'm sure the family retainers could not have been at fault. It must be someone between home and the Smyths. I mean, these people have been with us forever."

"But father..."

"Enough dear. Mr. Holmes is a very busy man I'm sure and does not need all the family details. I know this has to be someone outside the family. Probably someone watching us come and go for months."

"If your lordship would enlighten us as to your thinking on this matter, perhaps. It would help to know just whom you suspect, sir," Holmes broke in.

Proceed to Part Four