"Of course you can't!" cried the landlady, hysterically triumphant, "'cause they ain't there!"
"What aren't there?"
"The diamonds!"
"Diamonds!" repeated Gebb, with a start, as he noted that the dead woman wore no jewellery. "Had she diamonds?"
"I should think she had!" said Mrs. Presk, sitting down again. "Stars for her hair, rings, bracelets, and the loveliest necklace you ever saw--just like dewdrops with the sun on them. She wore her jewellery every night, and all to eat her chop. I saw them diamonds on her afore I went to the lecture."
"And when you came back they were gone."
"Every one of them," replied Mrs. Presk, defiantly, "and when I noticed it--for, to own up, Mr. Gebb, I didn't notice they were gone till I was here with you talking about her dress--but when I did notice, I ran out of the room 'cause I was a-feared you might say 'Tilda and I stole 'em."
"Nonsense! Why should I say that?"
"Oh, there ain't no tellings," said Mrs. Presk, with a toss of her head.
"Was that why you made all that howling?"