John was confused with gratitude, and Aline fled, leaving him an opportunity to recover by himself.
She had had a long talk with Ian in which they had decided that it was right that Master Mowbray should hear the whole story and be told about the secret room, as after all it belonged to him.
So that night she secured the little book and took it up to her old room with Audry.
As they were undressing, Aline took off the ruby pendant, which she was wearing concealed beneath her simple costume.
“Oh, how lovely!” exclaimed Audry, “diamonds and pearls and—what a marvellous ruby! But Aline, you have no right to wear this.”
“I feel a little doubtful, but Ian says it is all right, as at present I am in the position of his ward and in any case I am Scots and not English.”
“But if you are father’s ward then you will count as English.”
“Anyway, I shall not wear it in public; so it does not matter.”
“Your luck has come at last, Aline; just fancy your wearing diamonds and pearls like a duke’s daughter. But you deserve to be lucky after all you have been through. I would not go through what you have been through, for all the luck in the world, you beautiful lovely thing.”