"No—not a thing!" cried the lad emphatically. "I can swear they did not."
"You are quite sure?" observed Old Death.
"As sure as that I'm here; for I never took my eyes off them from the moment they entered the shop till they came out," responded Jacob. "And when they did come out, I was very near being seen by Mr. Rainford—for I was then in front of them; and I had only just time to slip into the shade of the wall between the windows of the jeweller's shop and the next one. Then I heard Mr. Rainford say to the Jewess, 'Now this little present is in part a recompense for the diamonds which I made you give up.'—The lady said something in a low tone; but I could not catch it—and they went on, the little boy with them."
"Then she did steal the diamonds!" exclaimed Old Death. "But how could such a man as Lord Ellingham feel any interest in her? and how could he have been induced to perjure himself to save her?"
"Isn't it strange?" said Mrs. Bunce.
"I'm all in the dark at present," returned Bones. "But go on, Jacob."
"They walked on till they came to a street on the left-hand side; and into that street they turned. I never lost sight of them once; but two or three times I thought Mr. Rainford would have twigged me. He did not, though; and I at last traced them to a house in Lock's Fields——"
"Lock's Fields—eh?" cried Old Death. "Can they possibly be living there?"
"They are," returned Jacob; "and I can take you over to the very street and the very house any time you like."
"Well done!" ejaculated Bones, indulging in another long and hearty chuckle, which was echoed by Mrs. Bunce; and then they both rubbed their hands gleefully to think that they had made such important discoveries through the medium of Jacob.