"Watson! Good God! What do you mean?" "I was the thief! Not she!" "You--hound!" "Don't look as though you'd like to murder me! I tell you I feel like murdering you! I am a ruined man. The thought came into my head that if I could get off with those Mitwaterstraand diamonds, I should have something with which to start afresh. Like an idiot, I took them from the case last night, meaning to hatch some cock-and-bull story about having forgotten to bring the case upstairs, and their having been stolen from it in the night. But on reflection I perceived how extremely thin the tale would be. I went downstairs to put them back again. I was in the very act of doing it when you came in. I showed you the empty box. You immediately cried out that your wife had stolen them. It was a temptation straight from hell! I was too astounded at first to understand your meaning. When I did, I let you remain in possession of your belief. Now, Burgoyne, don't you be a fool." But Mr. Burgoyne was a fool. He fell on to the floor in a fit; this last straw was one too many. When he recovered, Mr. Watson was gone, but the diamonds were there, piled in a neat little heap upon the table. He had been guilty of a really curious lapse into the paths of honesty, for, as he truly said, he was a ruined man. It was one of those resonant smashes which are the sensation of an hour. Mrs. Burgoyne was released--without a stain upon her character. She never stole again! She had been guilty so many times, and never been accused of crime,--and the first time she was innocent they said she was a thief! Dr. Muir said the shock had done it,--he had said that a shock would do it, all along. Exchange is Robbery CHAPTER I "Impossible!" "Really, Mr. Ruby, I wish you wouldn't say a thing was impossible when I say that it is actually a fact." Mr. Ruby looked at the Countess of Grinstead, and the Countess of Grinstead looked at him. "But, Countess, if you will just consider for one moment. You are actually accusing us of selling to you diamonds which we know to be false." "Whether you knew them to be false or not is more than I can say. All I know is that I bought a set of diamond ornaments from you, for which you charged me eight hundred pounds, and which Mr. Ahrens says are not worth eight hundred pence." "Mr. Ahrens must be dreaming." "Oh no, he's not. I don't believe that Mr. Ahrens ever dreams." Mr. Golden, who was standing observantly by, addressed an inquiry to the excited lady. "Where are the diamonds now?" "The diamonds, as you call them, and which I don't believe are diamonds, since Mr. Ahrens says they're not, and I'm sure he ought to know, are in this case." The Countess of Grinstead produced from her muff one of those flat leather cases in which jewellers love to enshrine their wares. Mr. Golden held out his hand for it. "Permit me for one moment, Countess."