Lady Georgina, whose bright eyes took in everything, noticed her sudden increase of colour.
“The ruffians escaped,” she continued, speaking in her quick incisive voice, “but I believe they carried off very little. Of course, at Castle Stewart the loss of plate and jewels is considerable. The Belton Priory people have got off much better. I cannot imagine,” continued the good lady, tapping her feet impatiently, “what the police are made of in these days. How is it that they cannot get the faintest trace of these burglars? It is reported that they belong to a certain gang, called the Silver Mob.”
“How much you seem to know about burglars,” said Nance, shuddering slightly as she spoke. “Do they really go about in gangs?”
“I believe so, very often,” said Lady Georgina, after a pause. “They say the Silver Mob is very well-known to the police; that it has also existed for a long time. But the members are so clever and so widely scattered, that it is almost impossible to collect evidence sufficient to arrest any of them.”
“Well, I hope none of the burglars will come here,” said Nance.
Her hair was finished now, and she rose from her seat. Hester helped her put on the beautiful dress, and Lady Georgina amused herself hopping round, pulling out the train, and ejaculating over it in various staccato exclamations of delight.
A knock was heard at the door, and Rowton put in his head.
“Is the dressing complete?” he asked.
“Yes, pray come in,” called out Nance.
Hester was putting the finishing touches to the beautiful robe. Nance turned and faced her husband.