“Well, I was never deceived in any face yet. Not in one that I thoroughly trusted.”
“If Mrs. Hughes did not take the studs, and bring them to London, and pledge them, who else could have brought them? They were taken to Mr. James’s on the 27th, remember.”
“That’s the puzzle of it.”
“We must find out Mrs. Hughes, and then contrive to bring her within sight of Mr. James.”
“The Whitneys know where she lives. Anna and Helen have been to call upon her.”
“Then our way is pretty plain. Mind you don’t breathe a syllable of this to mortal ear, Johnny. It might defeat our aims. Miss Cattledon, always inquisitive, will question where we have been this morning with her curious eyes; but for once she will not be satisfied.”
“I should not keep her, Miss Deveen.”
“Yes you would, Johnny. She is faithful; she suits me very well; and her mother and I were girls together.”