“What do you think may have become of it?”
“I don't know, sir.”
“Would you allow me to make a thorough search in the place where it was last seen?” asked George, turning to his cousin.
“By all means. Dawtie, go and help Mr. Crawford to look.”
“Please, ma'am, it can't be there. We've had the carpet up, and the floor scrubbed. There's not a hole or a corner we haven't been into—and that yesterday.”
“We must find it,” said George. “It must be in the house.”
“It must, sir,” said Dawtie.
But George more than doubted it
“I do believe,” he said, “the laird would rather have lost his whole collection.”
“Indeed, sir, I think he would.”