Miss Hastings looked very thoughtful.
"You have certainly been robbed," she said. "Are you sure the keys have never left your possession?"
"Never for one single moment," he replied.
"Has any one in the house duplicate keys?" she asked.
"No. I bought the box years ago in Venice; it has a peculiar lock—there is not one in England like it."
"It is very strange," said Miss Hastings. "A thousand pounds is no trifle to lose."
Pauline Darrell, her face turned to the flowers, uttered no word.
"You might show some little interest, Pauline," said her uncle, sharply; "you might have the grace to affect it, even if you do not feel it."
"I am very sorry indeed," she returned, coldly. "I am grieved that you have had such a loss."
Sir Oswald looked pacified.