"No fear!" Then, as if suddenly recollecting something, "What an extraordinary business this is about Miss Verona's jewels; I cannot understand it."
"Neither can I."
"To me it looks rather like a hushed-up affair; someone in Manora has had a hand in the robbery."
"Perhaps," said Mrs. Lepell, doubtfully, "but Mrs. Chandos is the last woman in the world to allow herself, or her family, to be robbed without a struggle."
"Yes, that old scoundrel, Abdul Buk, seems to know something about it."
"I always thought he was rather a nice, venerable old person."
"He is a nice, deep old person, and I must admit, that I've never yet found him out; he is full of palaver and civility. If I were to believe anonymous letters——"
"But no one believes them," protested his aunt.
"He is at the bottom of the worst form of usury and blood-sucking in the district."
"There you go," said his aunt, "started on your hobby, usury and money-lenders."