“And what explanation did your aunt make?” Mason asked, his voice showing his interest.
“That’s just it. She didn’t make any. She managed to avoid me almost as soon as we left the department store. I don’t know where she’s gone. I’m afraid she’s still emotionally upset. I’m afraid her psychic balance has been affected by...”
“In other words, you mean you’re afraid she’s shoplifting again, is that it?”
“Yes.”
“And you think she’s been arrested, and want me to find out. Is that what you’re leading up to?”
“No,” she said, “not exactly.”
“Well,” Mason told her, “let’s make it exact. Just what do you want?”
She shifted her eyes uneasily, then took a deep breath and said, “Very well, Mr. Mason, specifically, I’m afraid that Aunt Sarah has stolen the Bedford diamonds.”
The lawyer leaned forward. “Tell me about the Bedford diamonds.”
“They’re some diamonds belonging to a Mrs. Bedford. They were left with Uncle George to be completely redesigned, placed in more modern settings and brought up to date. There was some recutting to be done. I don’t know all of the details of the order.”