Hughes whirled out of the room, inwardly resenting the doubt cast on her eyesight.
"It is so strange," mused Alice, "that you did not see the bracelet when you came up from dinner."
"It was certainly not there to see," returned Lady Sarah. "Perhaps you'll now look for yourself, my lady," cried Hughes, returning with the jewel-box in her hands.
The box was well searched. The bracelet was not there.
"This is very strange, Hughes," exclaimed Lady Sarah.
"It's very ugly also, my lady," answered Hughes, in a lofty tone, "and I'm thankful to the presiding genuses which rules such things, that I was not in charge when it happened. Though maybe, if I had been, it never would have took place, for I can give a guess how it was."
"Then you had better give it," said her mistress, curtly.
"If I do," returned Hughes, "I may offend Miss Seaton."
"No, you will not, Hughes," said Alice. "Say what you please: I have need to wish this cleared up."
"Well, ma'am, if I may speak my thoughts, I think you must have left the key about. And we have strange servants in the house, as my lady knows. There's a kitchen-maid that only entered it when we came up; and there's the new under-butler."