Milmont shrieked and seemed in danger of swooning. “We are surrounded by sneaks and thieves."
"No, it wasn't taken,” Gabriel assured her.
"Wasn't it though?” Jonathon asked, looking baffled.
"As if you didn't know perfectly well there was a sealed steel box inside the coffin,” Gabriel charged. “And that's the only reason you weren't there trying to get the necklace yourself."
"A steel box! Good God, that's why the coffin was so heavy,” Jonathon shouted. And if he's acting, he's giving an excellent performance, Hillary said to himself. He stood looking on quietly, observing everyone carefully.
Mrs. Milmont recovered from her semiswoon and was immediately screaming. “My pearls! My emerald! Claudia, do you have my emerald? Run up at once—no, I must go myself and see if my pearls are safe. Where is my emerald?"
"I am wearing my emerald, mama,” Claudia replied, holding out her hand, on which the large emerald shone magnificently. “I can't get it off, you recall I told you."
"Well, that is a blessing in disguise. They can't steal the emerald unless they cut off your finger. I must see to my pearls.” She was off, huffing and puffing up the staircase.
"You'd never miss just one finger, would you, Claudia?” Hillary asked with a smile.
"So someone tried to steal the tiara,” Jonathon said, and was treated to a description of how this had been discovered by Hillary, who was careful to give the impression he never for one moment connected the captain with the theft, whatever Luane might say.
"Very wise to put it in the bank,” Jonathon advised. “I think Miss Milmont and her mama should do the same with their jewels. All the real ones should be put away for safekeeping. Of course you won't bother having the glass case of reproductions put into the bank. Ought to put them away safely though."
"I shall."
"Sophie used to keep her real jewels in the basement, Fletcher said. Not a bad place for the replicas. No one would be looking in a basement for them."
"The damp might turn them rusty,” Hillary answered.
"Well, the settings are gold. That don't rust."
"Not the necklace, just the rings. An attic would be better."
"Yes, in the bottom of a trunk they'd be safe. Why don't you do that?"
"That is really not what I am come here to discuss,” Sir Hillary said in the tone of announcement, which won him the attention of the group. “I would like you all to come to Chanely for dinner this evening. Your hospitality is being strained, Captain, while I do nothing to entertain the relatives, of which I am of course only a connection, as you all delight in pointing out to me. Still, I would be honoured if you would come to me en masse this evening. Say about six. We shall dine at seven."
The invitation was accepted eagerly and, when Mrs. Milmont descended wearing her pearls, she was more delighted than any of them to return to Chanely.
"We should be back in plenty of time if we leave soon,” Jonathon agreed.
"Back from where?” Marcia demanded.
"Offered to take the girls to Maldon for a drive,” he explained.
"An excellent idea!” She immediately included herself. “I did not come prepared for long mourning and have only this one black gown. I shall see if I can't pick up a few things—black ribbons and a dark shawl. Claudia, too, might need black gloves."
"I have no proper mourning clothes either, mama,” her daughter said hopefully.
"My dear, so far as I can see, your grandma dresses you in half-mourning all the time. You haven't a bright stitch to your name, and that gown that you are wearing is close enough to gray to make no difference."
"It used to be blue,” Claudia explained.
"Well it is gray now. What time do we leave, Captain?"
"As soon as you're all dressed."
"I'm not going,” Luane announced. “Gabriel, what are you and Sir Hillary doing?"
"Nothing,” Gabriel answered, looking to his guardian.
"Why don't you ride along and escort the party?” Hillary suggested. “The
"No, it wasn't taken,” Gabriel assured her.
"Wasn't it though?” Jonathon asked, looking baffled.
"As if you didn't know perfectly well there was a sealed steel box inside the coffin,” Gabriel charged. “And that's the only reason you weren't there trying to get the necklace yourself."
"A steel box! Good God, that's why the coffin was so heavy,” Jonathon shouted. And if he's acting, he's giving an excellent performance, Hillary said to himself. He stood looking on quietly, observing everyone carefully.
Mrs. Milmont recovered from her semiswoon and was immediately screaming. “My pearls! My emerald! Claudia, do you have my emerald? Run up at once—no, I must go myself and see if my pearls are safe. Where is my emerald?"
"I am wearing my emerald, mama,” Claudia replied, holding out her hand, on which the large emerald shone magnificently. “I can't get it off, you recall I told you."
"Well, that is a blessing in disguise. They can't steal the emerald unless they cut off your finger. I must see to my pearls.” She was off, huffing and puffing up the staircase.
"You'd never miss just one finger, would you, Claudia?” Hillary asked with a smile.
"So someone tried to steal the tiara,” Jonathon said, and was treated to a description of how this had been discovered by Hillary, who was careful to give the impression he never for one moment connected the captain with the theft, whatever Luane might say.
"Very wise to put it in the bank,” Jonathon advised. “I think Miss Milmont and her mama should do the same with their jewels. All the real ones should be put away for safekeeping. Of course you won't bother having the glass case of reproductions put into the bank. Ought to put them away safely though."
"I shall."
"Sophie used to keep her real jewels in the basement, Fletcher said. Not a bad place for the replicas. No one would be looking in a basement for them."
"The damp might turn them rusty,” Hillary answered.
"Well, the settings are gold. That don't rust."
"Not the necklace, just the rings. An attic would be better."
"Yes, in the bottom of a trunk they'd be safe. Why don't you do that?"
"That is really not what I am come here to discuss,” Sir Hillary said in the tone of announcement, which won him the attention of the group. “I would like you all to come to Chanely for dinner this evening. Your hospitality is being strained, Captain, while I do nothing to entertain the relatives, of which I am of course only a connection, as you all delight in pointing out to me. Still, I would be honoured if you would come to me en masse this evening. Say about six. We shall dine at seven."
The invitation was accepted eagerly and, when Mrs. Milmont descended wearing her pearls, she was more delighted than any of them to return to Chanely.
"We should be back in plenty of time if we leave soon,” Jonathon agreed.
"Back from where?” Marcia demanded.
"Offered to take the girls to Maldon for a drive,” he explained.
"An excellent idea!” She immediately included herself. “I did not come prepared for long mourning and have only this one black gown. I shall see if I can't pick up a few things—black ribbons and a dark shawl. Claudia, too, might need black gloves."
"I have no proper mourning clothes either, mama,” her daughter said hopefully.
"My dear, so far as I can see, your grandma dresses you in half-mourning all the time. You haven't a bright stitch to your name, and that gown that you are wearing is close enough to gray to make no difference."
"It used to be blue,” Claudia explained.
"Well it is gray now. What time do we leave, Captain?"
"As soon as you're all dressed."
"I'm not going,” Luane announced. “Gabriel, what are you and Sir Hillary doing?"
"Nothing,” Gabriel answered, looking to his guardian.
"Why don't you ride along and escort the party?” Hillary suggested. “The
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