"It is very simple," she said. "This noon, when I returned to my room after lunch, I found upon my dressing-table certain pieces of jewelry which I recognized as having belonged to the late Miss Lavina Richmond.
"I knew them well. Nothing that I can imagine could have surprised me more than to find them there. I have no explanation to offer. I can't explain how it happened."
Nick could explain it very easily, at least so far as the appearance of the jewels in that particular place was concerned. It looked like a natural development of the plot. But his face expressed no emotion as he asked:
"Who had access to that room?"
"Nobody," replied Mrs. Stevens. "It was locked."
"Is it customary for you to lock your bed-room door when you go to lunch?"
"No; it is quite unusual. But we have a new servant in the house, and, as I had considerable money in the room, I took that precaution.
"All the doors were locked. I had the key to one of them. The others were on the inside of the locks.
"When I went to lunch the jewels were not there. When I returned they were there. That is all that I know about it. Here they are."
She drew from her pocket as she spoke a small cardboard box.