“I’ve heard of you,” she said. “Natalie has told me so many things about how you two played around together----” And that seemed funny, because she never would listen when I started, but I didn’t correct her. Willy said: “Indeed, Miss James?” But you could tell it was just something to say.
Then the bell rang, and Ito appeared, to give me a message.
Mr. Kempwood, it seemed, asked if I would come down immediately? The matter was urgent. I excused myself and, wondering, hurried to S. K.’s rooms. I thought it was strange that he hadn’t gone to business, strange that he had sent for me instead of coming up.
He himself admitted me, and his face was worried. He did not smile.
“Nat,” he said, “I have bad news. The bracelet is gone. Come in. This is the way that things were found this morning----”
I followed him and looked. The door of the wall safe was open, and papers were strewn across the floor. Near a window was the box of yellowed satin, which had always held my bracelet. This was wide open, the lid torn from the back, and empty.
I could hardly speak, but I clutched S. K.’s arm and whispered: “You were not hurt?”
“No, my dear, but----” he answered. I could see that the bracelet loss bothered him.
“Sit down,” I said, “I want to talk.” He did, and I settled too. “S. K.,” I began, “I want to tell you something. I know where that bracelet is----”
He leaned forward, and I told him.