ne I showed him had its peer in the city. But
was not in the drawing-room then, and later I became interested
elsewhere"--here he cast a look at me--"so that half the evening passed
before I had an opportunity to join her in the so-called alcove, where
I had seen her set up her miniature court. What passed between us in the
short interview we held together you will find me prepared to state, if
necessary. It was chiefly marked by the one short view I succeeded in
obtaining of her marvelous diamond, in spite of the pains she took to
hide it from me by some natural movement whenever she caught my eyes
leaving her face. But in that one short look I had seen enough. This was
a gem for a collector, not to be worn save in a royal presence. How had
she come by it? And could Mr. Smythe expect me to procure him a stone
like that? In my confusion I arose to depart, but the lady showed
a disposition to keep me, and began chatting so vivaciously that I
scarcely noticed that she was all the time engaged in drawing off
her gloves. Indeed, I almost forgot the jewel, possibly because her
movements hid it so completely, and only remembered it when, with a
sudden turn from the window where she had drawn me to watch the falling
flakes, she pressed the gloves into my hand with the coquettish request
that I should take care of them for her. I remember, as I took them,
of striving to catch another glimpse of the stone, whose brilliancy
had dazzled me, but she had opened her fan between us. A moment after,
thinking I heard approaching steps, I quitted the room. This was my
first visit."

As he stopped, possibly for breath, possibly to judge to what extent I
was impressed by his account, the inspector seized the opportunity to
ask if Mrs. Fairbrother had been standing any of this time with her back
to him. To which he answered yes, while they were in the window.

"Long enough for her to pluck off the jewel and thrust it into the
gloves, if she had so wished?"

"Quite long enough."

"But you did not see her do this?"

"I did not."

"And so took the gloves without suspicion?"

"Entirely so."

"And carried them away?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Without thinking that she might want them the next minute?"

"I doubt if I was thinking seriously of her at all. My thoughts were on
my own disappointment."

"Did you carry these gloves out in your hand?"

"No, in my pocket."

"I see. And you met--"

"No one. The sound I heard must have