"My goodness, popper, I guess Curzon and I have sort of muffed it somehow!" the little lady said, forlornly. "I guess you have, honey--I guess you have. Anyhow, something's gone bust, that's a sure thing! Let's go and ask Sir Mawson what it's all about." "Yes, let us by all means," put in the younger man. "Come on!" Mr. Narkom, who heard these things, drew closer to Cleek, looked up at him anxiously, and contrived to whisper an inquiry which fell only upon his ally's ears. "Found out anything, old chap?" "Yes. From their words it is clear that Sir Mawson has taken nobody in the house--even his son, Curzon--into his confidence regarding the lost necklace." "I don't mean that--I'm alluding to the others. Found out anything about _them_?" "Yes, and a very important thing, too: They are _not_ Diamond Nick and Dutch Ella. Not in the least like them, neither are they disguised. Also, Miss Eastman's injury is only a sprained wrist, it appears. You observe she does not even attempt to cover the back of her hand. I'm afraid, Mr. Narkom, you've been barking up the wrong tree." CHAPTER XXII By this time the major, his daughter, and young Curzon Leake, full of deep and earnest solicitude for the long-erring Henry, and fairly bristling with questions and entreaties, had crossed the intervening space and were at Sir Mawson's side; but as the details of what was said and done for the next ten minutes have no bearing upon the case in hand, they may well be omitted from these records. Suffice it then, that, on the plea of "having some very important business with these gentlemen, which will not permit of another moment's delay," and promising to "discuss the other matter later on," Sir Mawson managed to get rid of them, with the story of the lost necklace still unconfessed, and was again free to return to the subject in hand. "Of course, I can understand your reluctance, with those Indian chaps about, to take anybody into your confidence regarding the loss of the jewel, Sir Mawson," said Cleek, as soon as the others were well out of hearing; "but sometimes a policy of silence is wise, and sometimes it is a mistake. For instance: if any of a man's servants should know of a circumstance which might have a bearing upon a robbery they are not likely to mention it if they don't even know that a robbery has been committed. However, we shall know more about that after I've been over the ground and poked about a bit. So, if you and her ladyship will be so kind, I should like to have a look indoors, particularly in Lady Leake's boudoir, as soon as possible." Upon what trivial circumstances do great events sometimes hinge! Speaking, he turned toward the curve of the road to go back to the guarded gates of the house which he had so recently passed, when Lady Leake's hand plucked nervously at his sleeve.