"No; certainly not. Only I wondered if he had seen it."
"He could not have seen it, else he would have picked it up to show me."
"Well," I said, with a long-drawn sigh, for the mystery of the thing perplexed me, "I don't know who placed it there, or who took it away. Perhaps Striver removed it," I added with an afterthought.
"Why should he?"
"Why shouldn't he?" I echoed. "It's the very thing he wanted, since when I saw him at Mootley he was hunting for the eye to secure the money."
"But you said----"
"I know what I said," was my cross interruption. "So far as I can see there is no chance of learning the truth, as I dare not risk speaking to Striver lest I place a weapon in his hand. I don't know what to do."
"Well, dear," said Gertrude, rising to take her departure "if you ask my opinion, I think it is best to leave matters alone."
"But you will be in danger from your aunt's tongue."
"I don't think so. I have promised to give her half the money when it is found, and she won't risk losing that, since she is such a miser. Anne is dead and buried, so let sleeping dogs lie."