“Yes, but how the devil did they find the thing?” said Cedric. “That’s what I want to know.”
“But surely if they took Lady Saar’s jewel-case—”
“The necklace wasn’t in it. I’ll lay my last shilling on that. My mother had a hiding-place for it—devilish cunning notion—always put it there when she travelled. Secret pocket behind one of the squabs.”
“Good Gad, do you mean to say someone divulged the hiding-place to the rascals?” said George.
“Looks mighty like it, don’t it?”
“Who knew of it? If you can discover the traitor, you may yet get the necklace back. Are you sure of all your servants?”
“I’m sure none of them—Lord, I don’t know!” Cedric said, rather hastily. “My mother wants the Bow Street Runners set on to it, but m’father don’t think it’s the least use. And now here’s Ricky bolted, on top of everything! The old man will go off in an apoplexy!”
“Really, Cedric, you must not talk so of your Papa!” Louisa expostulated. “And we don’t know that Richard has—has bolted! Indeed, I am sure it’s no such thing!”
“He’ll be a fool if he hasn’t,” said Cedric. “What do you think, George?”
“I don’t know,” George answered. “It is very perplexing. I own, when I first heard of his disappearance—for you must know that he did not sleep in his bed last night, and when I saw him he was foxed—I felt the gravest alarm. But—”