Aunt Sophie's Diamonds by Joan Smith

over her till I make some other arrangement."
    "He has asked us to stay."
    "Has he indeed? Am I incorrect in my surmise that he hasn't been making up to you then?"
    She tossed her head and glared. “I am only on a two-week holiday, and already half of one week is gone. There's no counting on mama to stay beyond the two weeks."
    "I'm amazed she has consented to rusticate so long, but two weeks should be more than sufficient."
    "Sir Hillary, have you a Plan?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.
    "You may leave the matter in my hands."
    "And the other matter—the coffin. Have you completed arrangements for its remove to Chanely?"
    "I am not at all sure it is necessary."
    "You mean to cut the box open at the graveyard?"
    "That too may prove unnecessary."
    Captain Tewksbury came back with Miss Bliss in tow before this cryptic phrase could be explained, and the plan devised for Loo's keeping was put to her.
    She proposed a dozen reasons for its ineligibility, including a chicken farm and the impropriety of a lady's staying in a bachelor's home, but it was borne in on her by a significant glance from Thoreau that he wished her to remain, and she eventually capitulated.
    Luane was in the sulks, and Gabriel in a state not far removed from the same. “I suppose you didn't take my tiara to the bank either,” Loo said, to show him her opinion of his guardianship.
    "Certainly I did."
    "I wouldn't put it a bit past someone to try to steal it,” she said, shooting a black scowl at the captain as she spoke. He looked out the window, and ruined his seeming nonchalance by clearing his throat nervously.
    "As a matter of fact,” Sir Hillary replied, “someone did, last night."
    Everyone except Gabriel and Miss Bliss had to feign surprise at this, but the latter's very real surprise saved it from becoming an embarrassment. She demanded an explanation, which was given tersely and simply.
    Just as the explanation was completed, Mrs. Milmont entered the room, and it had to be given over again. She was as indignant as if it had been the pearls that had been attacked and demanded immediately to know what Sir Hillary meant to do about it.
    "I took them to the bank this morning for safekeeping,” he told her.
    "I trust you also reported it to the constable."
    "I did not like to do so when it was only ourselves—exactly the small group here—who knew I had the tiara."
    "I hope you are not accusing me!" Mrs. Milmont responded angrily. “Nor my daughter, for I assure you we did not budge an inch from the house the entire night, did we, Claudia?"
    "No, mama."
    "Certainly not, and we shared the same bed, didn't we, Claudia?"
    "Yes, mama."
    "I scarcely closed an eye all night long."
    "Did she, Claudia?” Hillary asked with a twinkle. She frowned heavily at him.
    "I can assure you neither Claudia nor myself moved all night. I daresay Luane just decided she wanted to keep the tiara herself and ran over to bring it home. I shouldn't blame her in the least. I don't see why you must have the good of it till she's eighteen."
    "It doesn't suit me at all,” he agreed reluctantly.
    "There is no need to report the matter,” Marcia Milmont went on, oblivious to sarcasm. “It would only create mischief."
    "Just what I thought myself, ma'am,” Hillary agreed.
    "I did not take it!” Luane bristled at Mrs. Milmont.
    "Hush up, you silly girl. Do you want to have someone thrown in jail? These matters are best kept within the family. Your tiara is locked up now safely enough, and no one can steal it."
    "It may be now, but I have a pretty good idea who tried to steal it!” Luane said, with an angry look at Jonathon.
    "Yes, well I have a pretty good idea who went sneaking out in the middle of the night to try to rob the grave of diamonds, too,” he retaliated. “And don't think I was the one who tried to steal your old tiara, for it's nothing but a bit of tin with diamond chips not worth a groat in it."
    "You don't mean the diamond necklace has been stolen!" Mrs.