“Who’s he?”
“He’s an old-time friend of the family. He’s known George and Sarah for years. He does a great deal of traveling, is quite a gem collector, and knows lots of interesting people. Uncle George does work quite well and very cheaply, and Mr. Cullens is frequently able to get him some very lucrative business. You see, Mr. Cullens spends a lot of time on shipboard, gets to talk with people about gems, knows a good many gem collectors, and, all in all, is a very valuable business connection for Uncle George.”
“When did the Bedford diamonds come in?” Mason asked.
“Saturday. Mr. Cullens brought them in. Mrs. Bedford was to come in later on in the week.”
“When did you first realize they were gone?”
“About half an hour ago. I decided to come to you at once.”
“Go ahead,” Mason told her.
“After I missed Aunt Sarah, I became completely exasperated. I went back to Uncle George’s office, thinking she might be there. The foreman showed me a note Uncle George had left, giving directions about working out sketches and designs for the Bedford diamonds. But... well, the Bedford diamonds weren’t there.”
“The vault was open?”
“Yes. Aunt Sarah had opened it this morning.”