"It was."
"I have just left some of them there now," said Mrs. Pond. "I went to my room after my ride, and took off a light cloak which was fastened with three pins, each having a diamond in its head. I stuck them all into a cushion on that dressing-table."
"Is the room locked?" asked Nick.
"Yes," replied Mrs. Pond, and she produced the key of the door which opened from the hall above.
"Will you allow me to go up there now?"
"Certainly."
She handed the key to Nick.
He took it and walked out of the parlor.
Nick had already formed a sort of working theory in the case. He scarcely believed that it would hold water, but it would do for a starter.
The most probable explanation that had come to him was that Mrs. Pond had not really been robbed at all.