others involved were professional thieves or only amateurs is as yet unknown. It is probable that the automobile was the sole object of their interest. However, the police are keeping a close eye on the house, on the remote possibility that the miscreants may take advantage of Mrs. MacDougal's absence to loot the place. Mercifully the most valuable of the antiques have been stored and Mrs. MacDougal's jewels and silver are in her vault at the bank; but, knowing her eccentric habit of generosity, I thought it possible that she might have given you something to keep for her, or perhaps-"
Karen couldn't endure the careful, pedantic speech any longer. She knew what the lawyer was driving at, and she didn't like the idea at all.
"You mean they-he-that big hulk of a chauffeur-might try to break in here?"
"No, no, you mistake my meaning. I consider it most unlikely. Quite unlikely indeed. I have no desire to alarm you-"
"Well, you have!"
"Then she did give you-"
"Just her clothes."
The lawyer emitted a sharp bark of laughter. "I hardly think thieves would bother about a bundle of old clothing. That is all?"
"Yes. Oh, and the jewelry-a necklace and earrings. But it's not valuable, just semi-precious stones and enamel. She handed it to me when she got out of the car this morning-a little memento-"
"Jewelry." Mr. Bates' voice sounded hollow. "It isn't, by chance, of black enamel bordered in silver-gilt, set with rosettes of pearls, emeralds, and diamonds?"
Karen's hand flew to her throat. "Diamonds? Emeralds? I thought they were peridots and rhinestones-"
"The stones themselves are not valuable," said Mr. Bates. "However, the jewelry belonged to Dolley Madison. It is depicted in the Warren portrait, and its pedigree is authenticated."
"Oh, my-oh, good Lord! Honestly, I had no idea- I'll bring it right over to your office. I don't want-"
"Please calm yourself, Mrs. Nevitt. If Mrs. MacDougal gave you the jewelry, she wants you to have the jewelry, and therefore you must keep the jewelry. I do suggest that you place it immediately in your safe-deposit box-"
"What safe-deposit box? I don't have one."
"Then you had better get one," said Mr. Bates dryly. "Is that all? You are certain she didn't give you the Beall emeralds or ask you to store her collection of Revere silver? I am relieved to hear it. Though the necklace and earrings are historic treasures, they are not intrinsically valuable, so I don't believe you need worry."
After he had hung up Karen took off the necklace and sat staring at it. So much for her expertise on the subject of antique jewelry! She hadn't even dated it correctly. It wasn't Victorian but Georgian, dating from the early part of the nineteenth century, before Victoria ascended the throne.
So Mr. Bates didn't believe she needed to worry. He was fairly sure the necklace and earrings would not attract a thief. It was nice that Mr. Bates was so unconcerned.
Even if the gang to which the chauffeur belonged decided to go after Mrs. MacDougal's other property, they might not be interested in the jewelry. The individual stones weren't worth much, and the set could not be pawned; it would be instantly recognized. But the same thing was true of the Rolls. And Horton knew she had the jewelry; not only had he seen Mrs. Mac give her the case, but she had removed one of the earrings during the drive back from the airport-held it up in full view of anyone who might glance into the rearview mirror.
Her fingers moved respectfully over the smooth surface of the enamel, the settings of the small gems. James Madison, fourth President of the United States, might have fastened the clasp around Dolley's plump neck. Dolley had worn it or carried it with her when she and the President escaped from Washington with the flames of the burning city reddening the sky behind them-the only time the capital had been sacked and destroyed by an invading enemy. Dolley had taken it all in her stride-a plump, pleasure-loving little
Karen couldn't endure the careful, pedantic speech any longer. She knew what the lawyer was driving at, and she didn't like the idea at all.
"You mean they-he-that big hulk of a chauffeur-might try to break in here?"
"No, no, you mistake my meaning. I consider it most unlikely. Quite unlikely indeed. I have no desire to alarm you-"
"Well, you have!"
"Then she did give you-"
"Just her clothes."
The lawyer emitted a sharp bark of laughter. "I hardly think thieves would bother about a bundle of old clothing. That is all?"
"Yes. Oh, and the jewelry-a necklace and earrings. But it's not valuable, just semi-precious stones and enamel. She handed it to me when she got out of the car this morning-a little memento-"
"Jewelry." Mr. Bates' voice sounded hollow. "It isn't, by chance, of black enamel bordered in silver-gilt, set with rosettes of pearls, emeralds, and diamonds?"
Karen's hand flew to her throat. "Diamonds? Emeralds? I thought they were peridots and rhinestones-"
"The stones themselves are not valuable," said Mr. Bates. "However, the jewelry belonged to Dolley Madison. It is depicted in the Warren portrait, and its pedigree is authenticated."
"Oh, my-oh, good Lord! Honestly, I had no idea- I'll bring it right over to your office. I don't want-"
"Please calm yourself, Mrs. Nevitt. If Mrs. MacDougal gave you the jewelry, she wants you to have the jewelry, and therefore you must keep the jewelry. I do suggest that you place it immediately in your safe-deposit box-"
"What safe-deposit box? I don't have one."
"Then you had better get one," said Mr. Bates dryly. "Is that all? You are certain she didn't give you the Beall emeralds or ask you to store her collection of Revere silver? I am relieved to hear it. Though the necklace and earrings are historic treasures, they are not intrinsically valuable, so I don't believe you need worry."
After he had hung up Karen took off the necklace and sat staring at it. So much for her expertise on the subject of antique jewelry! She hadn't even dated it correctly. It wasn't Victorian but Georgian, dating from the early part of the nineteenth century, before Victoria ascended the throne.
So Mr. Bates didn't believe she needed to worry. He was fairly sure the necklace and earrings would not attract a thief. It was nice that Mr. Bates was so unconcerned.
Even if the gang to which the chauffeur belonged decided to go after Mrs. MacDougal's other property, they might not be interested in the jewelry. The individual stones weren't worth much, and the set could not be pawned; it would be instantly recognized. But the same thing was true of the Rolls. And Horton knew she had the jewelry; not only had he seen Mrs. Mac give her the case, but she had removed one of the earrings during the drive back from the airport-held it up in full view of anyone who might glance into the rearview mirror.
Her fingers moved respectfully over the smooth surface of the enamel, the settings of the small gems. James Madison, fourth President of the United States, might have fastened the clasp around Dolley's plump neck. Dolley had worn it or carried it with her when she and the President escaped from Washington with the flames of the burning city reddening the sky behind them-the only time the capital had been sacked and destroyed by an invading enemy. Dolley had taken it all in her stride-a plump, pleasure-loving little
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