The contessa seemed to expect me to apologize, but when I remained silent she became practical.
"Still, I do not see my pearls, Monsieur Quarles."
"Contessa, your maid says you were looking at the earrings on the day before the robbery. She saw the case on your dressing-table."
"Yes, I remember."
"Do you remember putting the case back in your drawer?"
"Of course."
"I mean, is there any circumstance which makes you particularly remember doing so?"
"No."
"Was Nella crawling on the floor?"
"Why, yes. How did you guess that?"