"She's taken them after all," he gasped. "Who?" "My wife!" "Your wife!--Burgoyne!--What do you mean?" "Watson, my wife has stolen them." "Burgoyne!" The empty case fell to the ground with a crash. It almost seemed as though Mr. Watson would have fallen after it. He seemed even more distressed than his friend. His face was clammy, his hands were trembling. "Burgoyne, what--whatever do you mean?" "My wife's a kleptomaniac, that's what I mean." "A kleptomaniac! You--you don't mean that she has taken the stones?" "I do. Sounds like a joke doesn't it?" "A joke! I don't know what you call a joke! It'll be no joke for me. There's to be a meeting, and those stones will have to be produced for experts to examine. If they are not forthcoming, I shall have to explain what has become of them, and those are not the men to listen to any talk of kleptomania. And it isn't the money they will want, it's the stones. At this crisis those stones are worth a hundred thousand pounds to us, and more! It'll be your ruin, and mine, if they are not found." "They will be found. It is only a little game she plays. She hides, we seek and find. I think I may undertake to produce them for you in half-an-hour." "I hope you will," said Mr. Watson, still with clammy face and trembling hands. "My God, I hope you will." Mr. Burgoyne went upstairs. His wife was still asleep; and a prettier picture than she presented when asleep it would be hard to find. He put his hand upon her shoulder. "Minnie!" No reply. "Minnie!" Still she slept. When she did awake it was in the most natural and charming way conceivable. She stretched out her arms to her husband leaning over her. "Charlie! Whatever is the time?" "Where are those stones?" "What?" With the back of her hands she began to rub her eyes. "Where are what?" "Where are those stones?" "I don't know what--" yawn--"you mean." "Minnie!--Don't trifle with me!--Where have you put those diamonds?" "Charlie! Whatever do you mean?" Her eyes were wide open now. She lay looking at him in innocent surprise. "What a consummate actress you are!" The words came from his lips almost unawares. They seemed to startle her. "Charlie!" He--loving her with all his heart--was unable to meet her glance, and began moving uneasily about the room, talking as he moved. "Come, Minnie, tell me where they are?" "Where what are?" "The diamonds!" "The diamonds! What diamonds? Whatever do you mean?" "You know what I mean very well. I mean the Mitwaterstraand diamonds which Watson showed us last night, and which you have taken from the case." "Which I have taken from the case!" She rose from the bed, and stood on the floor in her night-dress, the embodiment of surprise. "If you will leave the room I shall be able to dress." "Minnie! Do you really think I am a fool? I can make every allowance--God knows I have done so often enough before--but you must tell me where those stones are before I leave this room."