"Perhaps the pearls will still be recovered," Penny said politely.
"That's what Mr. Cron tells me. He says it's foolish of me to worry. The police are certain to find them within a few days."
"Your loss was covered by insurance?" Penny inquired innocently.
"Oh, no! That's the dreadful part."
Penny looked sharply at Mrs. Dillon. The woman seemed so earnest that it was difficult to believe she was deliberately telling a falsehood. Yet the incident of the painting already had given the girl a clue as to Mrs. Dillon's character. If the woman knowingly would purchase a stolen picture was it not reasonable to suppose that she would feel no qualms at cheating an insurance company?
In the hope of gaining a little information, Penny casually brought up the subject of the Rembrandt, but Mrs. Dillon immediately became secretive. She would not talk of the picture even in a general way.
"I'll never learn anything except by making a direct accusation," Penny thought. "I don't dare do that—yet."
She was relieved when her father came a few minutes later.
"I'm sorry to bother you at your home," Mrs. Dillon began nervously, "but I had to see you at once. My pearl necklace was stolen this afternoon."
"Yes, so I heard," Mr. Nichols replied.