“It was at that moment that the girl came in. I saw Digby catch his breath and lean against the wall for support; then he straightened up and faced his host again. Just once had he glanced at her, with her glorious hair falling over her shoulders and a startled look of wonder in her great eyes. Then resolutely he looked away.
“ ‘What’s happened, Daddy?’ she whispered. ‘I heard your voice and——’
“ ‘This has happened, my dear,’ said Maitland grimly. ‘We have been privileged to discover Mr. Digby’s method of earning a livelihood.’ He pointed to the open safe. ‘He apparently ingratiates himself with people for the express purpose of stealing their valuables. In other words, a common thief.’
“ ‘I don’t believe it!’ she flashed out, imperiously. ‘Jack—a thief! How can you say such a thing?’
“ ‘Then may I ask what he was doing when your brother discovered him by the open safe? Besides, he admits it himself.’
“ ‘Jack!’ The cry seemed to come from the very depths of her soul. ‘Say it’s a lie!’
“For one second he hesitated; then he spoke quite steadily, though he didn’t look at her.
“ ‘I am afraid, Miss Maitland—that I can’t say it’s untrue.’
“And then there fell one of those silences that can be felt. She was staring at Jack Digby, was the girl—staring at him with a great amazement dawning on her face.
“ ‘Jack,’ she whispered, ‘look at me!’