There was a moment of deep silence in the cabin after the definite and cruel accusation was made. Clement swept the little crowd with a glance he strove to make amazed.
“I have been accused of theft! I am to be searched!...” he said. “My dear Heavy, this is absurd!”
“I know! I know! I’ve said that already. This la—they’ve taken the matter into their own hands.”
“But to be searched—the idea is infamous.”
“You can refuse,” said Heavy. “And await—er—the authorities.”
“And I stay here,” said the lady, like a figure of vengeance, “until the authorities come. I am not going to lose my tiara.”
“You’d scarcely do that, madam,” said the captain soothingly. “Even—even if Mr. Seadon had it, he could scarcely get rid of it. If he tried to get rid of it through his porthole people would see him—we’re alongside. And in any case his porthole is shut....”
Seadon, with a start, darted a glance to the porthole. Heavy’s remarks had closed that loophole pretty thoroughly, he thought.
“All the same, I stay,” said the lady implacably. “Unless, of course, Mr. Seadon allows us to search.”