He looked his appreciation, but when he spoke it was to say:
“This is the situation. Miss Digby—”
“The lady who is to be married tomorrow?”
“Who hopes to be married tomorrow.”
“How, hopes?”
“Who will be married tomorrow, if a certain article lost in this house tonight can be found before any of the persons who have been dining here leave for their homes.”
Violet uttered an exclamation.
“Then, Mr. Cornell,” she began—
“Mr. Cornell has our utmost confidence,” Roger hastened to interpose. “But the article missing is one which he might reasonably desire to possess and which he alone of all present had the opportunity of securing. You can therefore see why he, with his pride—the pride off a man not rich, engaged to marry a woman who is—should declare that unless his innocence is established before daybreak, the doors of St. Bartholomew will remain shut to-morrow.”
“But the article lost—what is it?”