“Let’s hope so,” Denby said. “Still, the night isn’t half over yet. Pleasant dreams, Miss Cartwright.”
She paused on the half landing and looked down at the two men.
“I’m afraid they won’t be quite—that.”
Monty crept to the foot of the stairway and made certain she was passed out of hearing. “Steve,” he said earnestly, “she’s gone now to get into your room.”
“No, she hasn’t,” Denby protested, knowing he was lying.
Monty looked at his friend in wonderment. Usually Denby was quick of observation, but now he seemed uncommonly dull.
“Why, she never made a move to leave until she knew I’d put the pouch in the drawer. Then she said she was tired and wanted to go to bed. You must have noticed how she took in everything you said. She’s even taken to watching me, too. What makes you so blind, Steve?”
“I’m not blind,” Denby said, a trifle irritably. “It happens you are magnifying things, till everything you see is wrong.”
“Nonsense,” Monty returned bluntly. “If she gets that necklace it’s all up with us, and you needn’t pretend otherwise.”
“Make your mind easy,” Denby exclaimed, “she won’t get it.”