“I want them to see your poor little trinkets. By God, no man shall doubt my daughter. Give me the key!”
She looked around for a moment, from one to the other, from John to her father, to Dr. Crossett, to Maria, who had entered the room, and stood looking at her. She was trapped. She knew that there was just one chance, hardly worth the trying.
“I—the key is lost, father.”
Dr. Barnhelm did not hesitate. He threw the delicate wooden box to the floor and dashed his foot down on it. It splintered to pieces.
“There! Look! All of you!”
He pointed to a string of amber, a silver pin, and—
“Look!” John stooped and held up before them the string of flashing diamonds.
“Lola!” There was agony in the Doctor’s voice. “Lola!”
“It is the box you dropped in here, after you came back from Dick Fenway. You would not let me see what was in it.” John held up the battered leather box. “See how well it fits these diamonds!”