"But why should she think it you?" asked Eugénie, puzzled.
"Simply in this way. I put her to bed when she was half-asleep, and she knew I was in the room with her. When I left, she fell asleep, and as her slumber was fitful, as I am sure it was, seeing she came downstairs, she no doubt woke up at the sound of the window being opened, and saw a man getting out. You know how an hour's sleep passes as a moment when one wakes, so I've no doubt Meg thought she'd just closed her eyes, and opened them again to see me getting out of the window."
"I understand," said Eugénie; "but who could it have been?"
"I believe it was Villiers," observed Keith thoughtfully. "He was about the house on that night; he was in want of money, so no doubt when Caprice left him in the supper-room, he walked upstairs to the bedroom, stole the diamonds, and left by the window. He could easily do this, as every one was in the drawing-room. Then Naball found that diamond clasp in his possession, or, at least, in the possession of the Chinaman to whom he sold it."
"But if he sold all those diamonds to old Lazarus, he must have got a good deal of money for them. Why did he not leave the country?"
Keith sighed.
"I'm sure I don't know. It seems all so mysterious," he said dismally. "What do you think should be done, Eugénie?"
"I think I'll see Naball again, or some other detective, and sift the whole affair to the bottom."
Keith looked at her with a pitying smile.
"My dear child, that will cost a lot of money, and you have not--"