"I think I ought to mention a circumstance, but I shall prefer speaking to you alone."
"Does it relate to any one present?"
"It does."
"Then I must have it told here. But let me first continue my question to each one present."
The question went round, and the answer in each case was in the negative.
"Now, Morton, I must ask you to state what you know of this matter, or rather what you suspect, and I leave it to your good sense to say only that which you think it absolutely necessary for me to know."
There was a dead silence. Every eye was turned toward Digby with intense interest, while he fixed his gaze steadily upon the floor.
"I saw Howard Pemberton putting the miniature in his breast coat-pocket last evening, sir, when we were in your drawing-room. I said to him, 'I've caught you, have I.' He made no reply to me, but turned away, very red in the face—"
"It is false—wickedly false," cried Howard, in a passionate burst of feeling.
"He states it is false," continued Digby, "but I will appeal to Fraser or McDonald, who saw it, or better still, to Martin Venables, who also saw it, and made some remark in apology for him!"