"Oh well, then," went on Mrs. Romilly, "I'm afraid, Addie dear, there isn't much mystery.
"But look here, Mother," Adrian interrupted eagerly, for he disapproved strongly of this explanation, "I say--you're not going to make me believe that either Lady Shard or Auntie A. wandered about the Beak cliff!"
"Oh no, not they, of course. But don't you see, Addie, the thing might have been dropped and picked up by someone who wasn't honest. It may even have been stolen. You know how utterly vague they both are, dear souls, they'll forget and never miss it. Then the person who had it might have gone on the cliff front--some servant--man-servant from London, say--chauffeurs, anybody--I propose that someone goes up to Crown Hill and hands it over to Auntie A. It is most certainly theirs."
"Once it gets into Miss Ashington's hands no one will see it again," said Pamela desperately.
"That sounds rather an awkward remark," commented Adrian, as they all took their places round the table.
"I don't mean she'll steal it," explained Pam, very hot and worried, "but what's the good of talking; everybody knows her. Whether it is hers or not she'll forget Mother has sent it to her, and things will drift vaguely."
"What would you do then?" asked Crow.
"Oh, give it to the Police, and tell them to advertise it. Then the real owner will claim it."
So said Pamela in the despairing hope of giving a chance to the Countess, who would claim, of course, through Sir Marmaduke, if she did not wish to appear in the matter.
Adrian agreed with her, quite unexpectedly, for which she felt grateful.