"I did not take it," said Garraboy, looking steadily in McKenna's eyes.
"But you know?"
"Yes, in a way I know," he said firmly. "A woman took it."
"How do you know?"
Garraboy did not answer immediately. He seemed reluctant to continue, frowning and moving restlessly from foot to foot. Finally he blurted out:
"I don't know who took it first, but this is what happened—the God's truth. When Mrs. Kildair put out the lights and counted sixty-one, I heard the ring on the table." He hesitated a moment and said hurriedly: "I made up my mind to give them all a shock. I did not intend to keep the ring; I swear it. I put out my hand to take it—and I touched another hand—the hand of a woman."
"Who took it?"
"Yes."
"Was that woman Mrs. Cheever, or Miss Lille?" said McKenna quickly.
"I don't know."