Cullens’ diamond glittered as he raised his hand to take the cigar from his mouth. “Oh, bosh!” he said, “forget it. She’s no shoplifter. She’s trying to cover up for your uncle.”
“How do you mean?”
“When she went to the office yesterday,” Cullens said, “she found the Bedford diamonds were gone. Just between you and me, that’s the thing which has always worried her — that some day when your uncle starts on one of these benders he’ll forget that he has some stones in his pocket. Your aunt pulled this shoplifting stunt to fool you, and to fool me if it became necessary. She’s out looking for George right now.”
“I don’t think Aunty would do that,” Virginia Trent said.
Cullens said shortly, “You don’t really think she’d turn shoplifter, do you?”
“Well... well, I have the evidence of my own eyes.”
Cullens said, “All right. Let’s not argue about it. Let’s tell Lone Bedford what she’s up against.”
“Oh, we mustn’t tell her! No matter what happens, we must keep her from finding out...”
Cullens ignored her, to turn to the lawyer. “I’m sorry,” he said, “to have to handle things this way, Mr. Mason, but I think I’d better stay right here for the moment. This thing is important. It means quite a good deal to me. Those stones were worth twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars. My car’s down in front, a green convertible with the top down. Mrs. Bedford is waiting in the car. I wonder if it would be possible for you to have one of your girls...”
Mason turned to Della Street. “Go on down, Della,” he said. “Find Mrs. Bedford and bring her up.”