Pen laid down her knife and fork. “Then that explains it all! I thought that stammering-man had more to do with it than you would tell me. I suppose he hired Jimmy Yarde, and that other person, to steal the necklace?” She wrinkled her brow. “I don’t wish to say rude things about your friends, Richard, but it seems to me very wrong of him—most improper!”
“Most,” he agreed.
“Even dastardly!”
“I think we might call it dastardly.”
“Well, that is what it seems to me. I see now that there is a great deal in what Aunt Almeria says. She considers that there are terrible pitfalls in Society.”
Sir Richard shook his head sadly. “Alas, too true!”
“And vice,” said Pen awfully. “Profligacy, and extravagance, you know.”
“I know.”
She picked up her knife and fork again. “It must be very exciting,” she said enviously.
“Far be it from me to destroy your illusions, but I feel I should inform you that stealing one’s mother’s diamonds is not the invariable practice of members of the haut ton.”