“A secret lover perhaps,” George suggested.
“No, not that I am aware of. She had no secrets from me. Since we came to England she has never spoken of any man with admiration.”
“Then abroad she had an admirer? Where?”
“In Nice. Charles Holroyde, a rich young Englishman, who was staying last winter at the Grand Hotel, admired her very much.”
“And you were also living in Nice at the time?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know his address in England?” he inquired.
“No. Nelly may have done, but I did not. I met him with her on the Promenade several times, and he seemed very pleasant and amusing. The diamond brooch she wore he gave her as a present last carnival.”
“Now that I recollect,” George exclaimed, “she was not wearing that brooch when I discovered her.”
“No,” answered his well-beloved. “Strangely enough, that has been stolen, although no attempt was made to take the watch and bunch of charms she wore in her blouse.”