In fact, Lady Vignoles, who was wearing the historic Lyrpa Diamond—her father's wedding-present—was so concerned that she had entirely lost track of the general conversation, which, from the great gem, had drifted automatically into criminology.
Zimmermann was citing the famous case of the Kimberley mail robbery in '83.
"That was a big haul," he said. "Twelve thousand pounds' worth of rough diamonds!"
"Fifteen!" corrected Bernard Megger, director of a world-famed mining syndicate.
"Oh, was it fifteen?" continued Zimmermann. "No doubt you are correct. Were you in Africa in '83?"
"No," replied Megger; "I was in 'Frisco till the autumn of '85, but I remember the affair. Three men were captured—one dead. The fourth—Isaac Jacobsen—got away, and with the booty!"
"Never traced, I believe!" asked the novelist.
"Never," confirmed Megger; "neither the man nor the diamonds."
"It was a big thing, certainly," came Vignoles' voice; "but this Séverac Bablon has beaten all records in that line!"
The remark afforded his wife an opportunity, for which she had sought, to break off the too confidential tête-à-tête between Zoe and the detective.