“I am glad to be rid of these priceless treasures,” she said. “Had you not better take them down to the safe at once, Adrian? Is it wise to keep them here till the morning?”
“It is morning now,” he said, with a yawn; “burglars do not come in broad daylight; the jewels can lie with perfect safety in your dressing-room till we get up. Now I am going to tumble into bed as fast as ever I can.”
He went into his dressing-room as he spoke, and Nancy rather slowly and with a certain unwillingness, which she could not account for, went to hers.
To her surprise and by no means to her pleasure, Hester, looking pale and worn, was waiting for her.
“Why are you here, Hester?” exclaimed her mistress. “I particularly told you that I did not wish you to stay up.” There was some annoyance in Nancy’s gentle voice.
“Yes, ma’am, you are very kind and thoughtful,” replied the maid, lowering her eyes as was her invariable habit, “but I could not possibly let you unlace your dress.”
“My husband could have done it. I really wish you had obeyed me,” said Nance. “Well, as you are up you had better do what is necessary. Please give me my jewel-case from the dressing-table; I want to put the pearls and this diamond into it.”
Hester took up a beautiful morocco jewel-case, unlocked it and held it out before her mistress. Nancy put the string of pearls and the diamond in the top compartment of the case.
“It is a queer, uncanny sort of stone,” remarked Hester, looking at the black diamond as she spoke.
Nancy did not reply. Hester locked the case and gave her mistress the key.