"Ask away. It's just as well we are alone. Ida doesn't care to talk of that dreadful day or of her association with Miss Hest."
"Nor does Lucy. That dreadful woman! What a dare-devil she was, and as clever as they make them."
"She was a sight too clever," replied Towton drily, "as she burnt her fingers at the last. I suppose you know that Miss Jewin was caught?"
"You wrote me something about it."
"Didn't Lady Corsoon tell you anything?"
"No. Why should she?" said Vernon with a look of surprise.
"Well, as you knew the secret of her pawning those jewels, I thought she would have told you of their recovery."
"What! Were they recovered? Who had them?"
"Miss Jewin. She escaped, but Drench caught her. She sent for me before she committed suicide."
Vernon looked horrified. "Did she kill herself, poor wretch?"