He stopped. She held out both her hands to him.
The next moment she had gone.
CHAPTER XVIII.
With a wonderful feeling of light-heartedness, Jimmy turned once more to the jewel box. He picked up the lamp and switched off the electric light. He had dropped the necklace to the floor, and had knelt to recover it when the opening of the door, followed by a blaze of light and a startled exclamation, brought him to his feet with a bound, blinking but alert.
In the doorway stood Sir Thomas Blunt. His face expressed the most lively astonishment. His bulging eyes were fixed upon the pearls in Jimmy's hand.
"Good evening," said Jimmy pleasantly.
Sir Thomas stammered. It is a disquieting experience to find the floor of one's dressing room occupied by a burglar.
"What—what—what—" said Sir Thomas.
"Out with it," said Jimmy.
"What——"