"Mr. Harding led me to suppose she was eccentric," I said. "It is often the way with wealthy old ladies."
"Wealthy!" she laughed. "She left me all she had, and I shall not be able to afford to go on living here."
"How came she to give the jewels to the church then?"
"I hardly know, and I will confess that I was a little disappointed when she did so. Does that sound very ungrateful in view of the fact that she left me everything else!"
"No. It is natural under the circumstances."
"She was very fond of me, but as I have said, she was secretive and she certainly did not give me her entire confidence. I fancy the jewels were connected with some romance in her past life, and for that reason she did not wish any one else to possess them."
"You can't give me any idea of the nature of this romance, Miss Belford?"
"No."
"It might possibly help me."
"There is one thing I could do," she said. "My aunt had a very old friend living in Yorkshire. She would be likely to know, and under the circumstances might tell. If you think it would be any use I will write to her."