She pointed to the wall where a large cupboard was built into it.
“The—the executors will give them to me, won't they?”
The inspector went over and stood near the door.
“Mrs. Carnthwacke, when the door of the safe was opened in the presence of Mr. Bechcombe's executors and of the police, there were no diamonds there.”
“What! You do not—you cannot mean that my diamonds are lost!” Mrs. Carnthwacke started to her feet. “Mr. Bechcombe put them in the safe himself, I tell you.”
“That was not a safe. It is just an ordinary cupboard in which papers and documents of no particular importance were kept. And when the safe was opened there was no sign of diamonds there,” the inspector said positively. “It may be possible that Mr. Bechcombe moved them before, otherwise——”
“Otherwise what?” she demanded. “Heavens, man, speak out! My diamonds are worth thousands of pounds. Otherwise what?”
“Otherwise they may have provided a motive for the crime,” the inspector said slowly. “But no—that is impossible, if you saw him lock them up.”
“Of course I did, you may bet I watched that.” Mrs. Carnthwacke calmed down a little. “Besides, I have got the receipt. That makes him, or his executors liable for the diamonds, doesn't it?”
“Have you the receipt here?” the inspector asked quickly.