"At first I paid no attention to the letters; precious stones didn't interest me. But when I got all that money I began to read them. You see I—I wanted to make Irma a present, and I knew she loved pearls better than anything else in the world."
I let a whistle of astonishment out of me. "Do you mean to say you bought Miss Hamerton's pearls with the idea of presenting her with them, to add to her collection?"
He nodded shamefacedly. "I didn't know she had been robbed."
"How long had you had them?"
"Just a few days."
He told me that he had asked Miss Hamerton to marry him, and intended the necklace for a wedding-gift if she consented.
"You were a downy bird!" I exclaimed.
"Wait till I tell you," he said. "They were a slick pair. You might have been taken in yourself."
"Did they know you?" I asked, still full of amazement.
"Certainly. I paid for them by check, certified check."