"Well, I cannot think. I am content to leave the elucidation to time." Mrs. Penn looked at him: she seemed to be hesitating over something. It was so palpable that Mr. Chandos noticed it. "What is it?" he asked. "I think I will speak," she said, with sudden decision. "Though indeed I do not like to do so, Mr. Chandos: and I certainly should not, but for hearing of this loss of yours. I have had a small loss too." Mr. Chandos sat down; he had been standing since she came in; and waited for her to continue. "It is not of much value; but—as you say by your book—it is the fact of its having gone that troubles me. Only a bit of what we call Honiton lace, about three yards of it, two inches in width. That it was safe in my workbox yesterday morning I know. This morning it was no longer there." "Was the workbox locked?" "It was. I had left it in the library, locked. My keys were in a drawer of my bedroom, where I keep them, for they are heavy, and weigh down my dress-pockets. Curious to say, upon looking for my keys this morning, I found them not in the usual drawer, but in the fellow-drawer beside it. Whoever had taken them out forgot which was the right drawer and put them back in the wrong one." "And you missed the lace?" "Yes. It happened that I was going to use it to trim some sleeves: but for that I might not have missed it for weeks. It was in the bottom of the workbox, lying a-top of some other things: as soon as I lifted the upper tray I saw it was gone. Of course I searched the box over, but without result." "Have you spoken to the servants?" "I have not said much, lest they should think I accused them. What I said was that I had lost or mislaid some lace; and described it. They all appear to be quite innocent. Still, the lace could not go without hands. "I don't like this," observed Mr. Chandos, after a pause. "It is not the loss in itself—as I say: it is the feeling of insecurity it leaves," returned Mrs. Penn. "One cannot be sure that other things will not follow. But I must not detain you longer," she added, rising. "I hope, Mr. Chandos, you will not think I have been wrong or unkind to mention this." "I think you have done quite right, Mrs. Penn," he warmly replied, as he opened the door for her. "If we really have a thief in the house, the sooner we are upon our guard the better. Take greater care of your keys for the present. As to the lace, Mrs. Chandos will make it good to you——" "Sir! Mr. Chandos!" she interrupted, rather fiercely. "Oh, pray don't talk in that way; I shall be vexed to have mentioned it. The loss is nothing." She left the room. Not a word had I spoken all the while; not a syllable as to my own boxes having been visited. I did not care to throw any accusation upon Lizzy Dene. Besides, the matter seemed to present contradiction to my mind: as I found by the next words it was doing to that of Mr. Chandos.