"Yes, after breakfast, so to speak," she responded.
"And I would remain till after supper—when the band had dispersed, and the lights were put out."
"I, too, should like to remain till the Last Post," said Mrs. Lepell.
Pussy listened to this conversation with a face of blank bewilderment. What did they mean by talking of breakfast, and supper, in this odd fashion?
"By-the-way, Verona," said Mrs. Lepell, "to change to another subject, have you ever had any trace of your jewels?"
"No, never."
"Pray, Brian," turning to her nephew, "what are you about? I repeat the common cry, 'Where are the police?'"
"The police were never informed of this theft," he rejoined. "I heard of the robbery as a mere bazaar shave."
"Do you mean to tell me," said his aunt, now sitting erect, "that you were not officially informed that Mrs. Chandos had a press broken into, and that Verona's dressing-bag was opened, and all the valuables in it were carried off?"
"What valuables?" he asked, judicially.