“What witness have you against me?”
“The best of witnesses—Miss Cameron.”
“And me,” added Hugh.
“Gentlemen, I am very sorry. I yielded to temptation. I meant to restore the diamond after the joke had been played out, but I was forced to part with it.”
“The joke is played out, you see,” said Falconer. “So you had better produce the other bauble you stole at the same time.”
“I have not got it.”
“Come, come, that’s too much. Nobody would give you more than five shillings for it. And you knew what it was worth when you took it. Sutherland, you stand over him while I search the room. This portrait may as well be put out of the way first.”
As he spoke, Falconer tore the portrait and threw it into the fire. He then turned to a cupboard in the room. Whether it was that Funkelstein feared further revelations, I do not know, but he quailed.
“I have not got it,” he repeated, however.
“You lie,” answered Falconer.