“Ah! come, sir, that’s better.”
“Yes, yes, go on,” cried Capel excitedly, and at that moment it was not the treasure that filled his eyes, but the figure of a sweet, gentle girl, who had watched beside his sick bed.
“Well, the fact is, gentlemen, I very soon came to the conclusion that the great treasure had not been stolen.”
“Why?” said Mr Girtle.
“No notes were put in circulation that I could find—old notes—and no valuable jewels sold.”
“To be sure, yes,” said Mr Girtle. “My idea.”
“That wasn’t worth much, gentlemen; but I felt sure from the beginning that the treasure was taken by someone on the premises.”
“Not that couple, I’ll swear,” said Mr Girtle.
“Nor the servants,” said Capel.
“There, sir, it’s all in a nutshell,” said Linnett, hesitating.