“Has he ever complained of the size of the allowance?”
“Not that I am aware of, but he has borrowed of me.”
“And repaid?”
“Never.”
There was silence for a moment, and then Nick asked:
“Was it generally known in the house that the diamonds were coming?”
“Yes. The matter was often talked of.”
Again there was a long pause.
“Oh, say,” said Charley presently, “you may as well give up that line of inquiry. We know well enough how the thieves got into the house, and how they got the gems. You see, they left plenty of clues behind. The sheriff thinks he has them located already. What have you discovered?”
The detective had no idea of reporting progress at that time, so he ignored the question and asked for Mrs. Maynard.