"I didn't steal it. I never saw it at the time of the accident."
"Then you got that boy Tray to steal it."
"I knew nothing about the boy. Besides, why should I steal that opal serpent brooch?"
"You wanted to buy it from Beecot, anyhow?"
Hay looked puzzled. "Yes, for a lady."
"Mrs. Krill?"
"I admit that Mrs. Krill wanted it. She had associations connected with that brooch."
"I know," interrupted Aurora, glancing at the clock, "don't waste time in talking of Lady Rachel Sandal's death—"
"How do you know about that?" stammered Hay, completely nonplussed.
"I know a mighty lot of things. I may as well tell you," added Miss Qian, coolly, "since you daren't split, that I've got a lot to do with the secret detective service business. I'm helping another to hunt out evidence for this case, and I guess you know a lot."