"No."
"But where are they then?"
"I don't know. I looked for them in the basket as you told me to. They weren't there any longer. The little card-board box had disappeared."
During his explanation Dorothy grew graver and graver. The danger suddenly grew clear to her.
"Why didn't you tell me about it? I should not have acted as I did."
"I didn't dare to. I didn't want to worry you."
"Ah, Saint-Quentin, you were wrong, my lad."
She uttered no other reproach, but added:
"What's your explanation?"
"I suppose I made a mistake and didn't put the earrings in the basket ... but somewhere else ... in some other part of the caravan.... I've looked everywhere without finding them.... But those policemen—they'll find them."