"They may surprise you, but, before, going further, I think you should know them. You will not accept my authority, if I state the facts as they are.
"Mrs. Stevens, is it not true that you have one of the judges of the Supreme Court as your neighbor?"
"Yes; Judge Lorrimer is our next neighbor on the south."
"Will you kindly send your servant to his house, or perhaps—"
He glanced at Horace.
"All right, I'll go," said Horace. "I know the judge. But I don't see what you are driving at, Mr. Carter."
"I want to persuade Colonel Richmond to get the law in the case before he goes further. He should consult an authority about this transfer before he makes any more promises which may or may not be legally good."
"I think it a good idea," said Colonel Richmond. "Horace, go over to the judge's house."
During the interval while he was gone very little was done. Mrs. Stevens sat holding the package, and apparently deeply moved.
She several times declared to Colonel Richmond that she did not wish her daughter to get the jewels in such a way, and that she was still convinced that human beings had planned and executed the whole strange series of robberies and surprises.