"No; and in the excitement I was not presented to Lady Leconbridge," Hartmann answered.
"Was she very much agitated?" I asked.
"She was curiously calm."
"I believe you know something about precious stones, Mr. Hartmann?"
"Gems are a hobby of mine," he said with a smile.
"I want your opinion. Do you think paste might deceive an expert?"
"At a casual glance—yes, if it were good paste."
"For instance," I said, "if Lady Leconbridge had been wearing the necklace when you approached her would you have known had it been paste?"
"I should," he answered, with a satisfied smile.
"But yours would have been only a casual glance. A man is more likely to be interested in a woman's beauty than in the jewels she is wearing. Besides, you would not expect Lady Leconbridge to be wearing paste."