The Argosy — page 81: what you’re looking at

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68 The Diamond Bracelet. 4 “Vou are a clever fellow, then,” cried the colonel, “if you have obtained it here. What is the clue?” 3 “ Will Lady Sarah allow me to mention it—whatever it may be— without taking offence?” continued the officer, looking at her ladyship- She bowed her head, wondering much. | “What's the good of standing upon ceremony?” peevishly put in- Colonel Hope. ‘“ Her ladyship will be as glad as we shall be to get back her bracelet; more glad, one would think. A clue to the thief! Come! who is it?” Mr. Pullet smiled. When men have been as long in the police force as he had, they give every word its due significance. ‘“‘I did not say a clue to the thief, colonel: I said a clue to the mystery.” ‘* Where's the difference ?” ‘Pardon me, it is perceptible. That the bracelet is gone, is a ; alpable fact : but by whose hands it went, is as yet a mystery.” ‘** What do you suspect ?” “T suspect,” returned the officer, lowering his voice, “that Miss Seaton knows how it went.” There was a silence of surprise ; on Lady Sarah’s part, of indignation. “Ts it possible that you suspect Zev ?” uttered Colonel Hope. “No,” said the officer, ‘I do not suspect herself: she appears not to be a suspicious person in any way: but I believe she knows who the delinquent is, and that fear, or some other motive, keeps her silent. Is she on familiar terms with any of the servants ?” ‘But you cannot know what you are saying!” interrupted Lady Sarah. ‘‘ Familiar with the servants! Miss Seaton is a gentlewoman; she has always moved in high society. Her family is little inferior to mine ; and better—better than the colonel’s,” concluded her ladyship, determined to speak out. | “Madam,” said the officer, “ you must be aware that in an investiga- tion of this nature, we are compelled to put questions which we do’not — expect to be answered in the affirmative. Colonel Hope will understand what I mean, when I say that we call them ‘feelers.’ I did not expect to hear that Miss Seaton had been on familiar terms with your servants (though it might have been); but that question, being disposed of, will ‘lead me to another. I suspect that some one did enter the room and make free with the bracelet, and that Miss Seaton must have been -cognisant of it. Ifa common thief, or an absolute stranger, she would have been the first to give the alarm: if not on too familiar terms with ‘the servants, she would be as little likely to screen them. So we come to the question—who could it have been? ” ‘‘May I inquire why you suspect this of Miss Seaton?” coldly demanded Lady Sarah. : “‘ Entirely from her manner ; from the agitation she displays.” ** Most young ladies, particularly i in our class of life, would betray — icomicbooks.com