"If your Grace will allow me to make a distinction without a difference--we charge no one with anything. If your Grace will give us your permission to credit the jewels to your account, there is an end of the matter."
"What is the value of the articles which you say have gone?"
"On that point we are not ourselves, as yet, accurately informed. I may as well state at once--it is better to be frank, your Grace--that this sort of thing appears to have been going on for some time. It is only an hour or so since we began to have even a suspicion of the extent of our losses."
"Then, in effect, you charge the Duchess of Datchet with robbing you wholesale?"
Mr. Golden paused. He felt that to such a question as this it would be advisable that he should frame his answer in a particular manner.
"Your Grace will understand that different persons have different ways of purchasing. Lady A. has her way. Lady B. has her way, and the Duchess of Datchet has hers."
"Are you suggesting that the Duchess of Datchet is a kleptomaniac?"
Mr. Golden was silent.
"Do you think that that is a comfortable suggestion to make to a husband, Mr. Golden?" Just then someone tapped at the door. "Who's there?"
A voice--a feminine voice--enquired without, "Can I come in?"