Not only was the denial fervent and calm, but Selina's manner and countenance conveyed the impression of truth. Alice left her, inexpressibly relieved; though the conviction, that it must have been Gerard, returned to her in full force. "I wish I could see him!" was her mental exclamation.
And, for once, fortune favoured her wish. As she was dragging her weary limbs along, he came right upon her at the corner of a street.
"I am so thankful!" she exclaimed. "I wanted to see you."
"I think you most want to see a doctor, Alice. How ill you look!"
"I have cause," she returned. "That bracelet has been stolen."
"Which bracelet?" asked Gerard.
"That valuable one. The diamond. It was taken from the room."
"Taken when?" he rejoined, looking her full in the face—as a guilty man would scarcely dare to look.
"Then; or within a few minutes of that time. When Lady Sarah came up from dinner it was not there. She came up almost immediately."
"Who took it?" he repeated, not yet recovering his surprise.