"Quite so--quite so," interrupted the lawyer with his dry cough, "but it would be as well to avoid personal remarks. They do no good and take up valuable time. Go on, Mrs. Walker."
"I want to hear what Mr. Hale has to say about the amethyst cross," said the widow with a dark look at her enemy.
"I have nothing to say about it," retorted Hale, nursing his chin with his hand and leaning back with crossed legs, apparently indifferent.
"Pardon me, but you have much to say," remarked Jabez precisely. "So far I merely know on the authority of Mrs. Walker--that the cross was given to this young lady," he nodded very curtly towards Lesbia, "and that in her turn she passed it to Mr. George Walker."
"That is true," admitted Lesbia, seeing that she was called upon to speak. "I was told by Bridget----"
"Who is Bridget?" interrupted Jabez keenly.
"My late nurse. She is dead."
Jabez shook his bald head. "T'cht! T'cht! T'cht! That is a pity. Go on."
"Bridget told me that I was to give the cross only to the man I loved. I therefore gave it to George. He was assaulted for it on the towing-path and as it could not be found upon him, his room at Medmenham was robbed."
Jabez nodded. "Mrs. Walker told me all this," he said quietly, "and the cross has never been found."