“Does thee mean to say thee can find no trace of the coin?” she asked incredulously.
“It has disappeared absolutely.”
“Is thee certain that thy servant was not in the house at the time the lamp exploded?”
“Positive. Mrs. Sims, wife of the Commandant, told me he was assisting the other servants in the Administration Building from the commencement of the tea-dance until its close.”
“Then thee infers that one of thy guests stole the coin?”
“What other conclusion can I reach?” hopelessly. “And yet it’s a devilish thought.”
“Has thee suspicions against anyone in particular?” Madame Yvonett paled as she put the question, but she sat with her back to the light and Tom did not perceive her agitation.
“Yes, I have,” reluctantly. “Joe Calhoun-Cooper.”
“Cooper? Ah, yes, I recollect; thee means John C. Cooper’s grandson. What leads thee to suspect him?”
“I know he’s hard up; he’s been trying to borrow money, his father having shut down on his allowance;” Tom paused thoughtfully, then continued. “Joe was with me when I learned the coin’s value. He first spoke of it yesterday—I never should have mentioned the matter—and suggested I show the coin to my guests, evidently depending on chance to give him an opportunity to steal it.”