“I haven’t heard anything about the will yet, but I’m pretty certain, that outside of a few friendly bequests his fortune is divided between his wife and son, about equally.”
“And his jewel collection? Is not that valuable?”
“Very. The emeralds mentioned in that note comprise a fortune in wonderfully matched stones. And there are many more. Yes, it is an exceedingly valuable lot.”
“He showed them to Mr. Truxton, that evening?”
“To all of us. That was right after dinner. He showed only a few cases, but of very beautiful stones.”
“And then he put them away, where?”
“I’ve no idea. They were not in sight, that I remember, when the Truxtons took leave. But I gave them no thought. I’ve often seen them, and after their exhibition, Mr. Stannard always puts them in his safe himself.”
“They have not been found in the safe.”
“Then he put them in some simple hiding-place. They will turn up. Unless, of course, there was a real burglar, whose motive was robbery.”
“But you do not think so?”