“But—but—” more desperately—“if I should be discovered?—Can’t you see, for your own sake—?”
“My own sake?” The big innocent eyes opened wider. “In that case, of course, I’d tell them the truth.”
“The truth!” How he hated the word! “You mean that I—?” Glancing toward the brooch.
“Of course!” Tranquilly.
Bob tried to consider. He could see what would happen to him, if they were interrupted. It certainly was a most preposterous conversation, anyhow. Besides, it wasn’t the place or the time for a conversation of any kind. He had just about made up his mind that he would go, whether she screamed or not, and take the consequences, however disagreeable they might be, when—
“Well, trot along,” said Miss Dolly graciously. “I suppose you’ve got a lot of work to do to-night and it’s rather unkind to detain you. Only pick up the brooch before you go.” He obeyed. “Now put it on the dresser and leave it there. Hard to do that, isn’t it?”
“No, it isn’t.” Savagely.
“Well, you can go now. By the way, Mrs. Vanderpool has a big bronze-colored diamond surrounded by wonderful pink pearls. It’s an antique and—would adorn a connoisseur’s collection.”
“But I tell you I am not—”
“My! How stupid, to keep on saying that! But, of course, you must really be very clever. Society-highwaymen always are. Good night. So glad I was thinking of something else and forgot to lock the door!”