Her eyes were wide open now. She lay looking at him in innocent surprise.
"What a consummate actress you are!"
The words came from his lips almost unawares. They seemed to startle her. "Charlie!"
He--loving her with all his heart--was unable to meet her glance, and began moving uneasily about the room, talking as he moved.
"Come, Minnie, tell me where they are?"
"Where what are?"
"The diamonds!"
"The diamonds! What diamonds? Whatever do you mean?"
"You know what I mean very well. I mean the Mitwaterstraand diamonds which Watson showed us last night, and which you have taken from the case."
"Which I have taken from the case!" She rose from the bed, and stood on the floor in her night-dress, the embodiment of surprise. "If you will leave the room I shall be able to dress."