"I heard of the bracelet's disappearance," said Gerard. "I met Alice when she was out this morning, and she told me it was gone." "Better make no admissions," whispered the officer in his ear. "They may be used against you." "Whatever admissions I may make, you are at liberty to use them," haughtily returned Gerard. "Is it possible that you do suspect me of taking the bracelet, uncle?--or is this a joke?" "Allow me to say a word," panted Alice, stepping forward. "I--I--did not accuse you, Mr. Hope; I would not have mentioned your name in connection with it, because I am sure you are innocent; but when it was discovered that you had called, I could not deny that you were upstairs while the bracelets lay on the table." "Of course I was. But the idea of my taking one is absurdly preposterous," went on Gerard. "Who accuses me?" "I do," said Colonel Hope. "Then I am very sorry it is not somebody else, sir, instead of you." "Explain. Why?" "Because they should get a kindly taste of my cane across their shoulders." "Gerard," interrupted Lady Sarah, "do not treat it in that light way. If you did take the bracelet, say so, and you shall be forgiven. I am sure you must have been put to it terribly hard; only confess it, and the matter shall be hushed up." "No, it shan't, my lady," cried the colonel. "I will not have him encouraged--I mean, felony compounded." "It shall," persisted Lady Sarah, "it shall, indeed. The bracelet was mine, and I have a right to do as I please. Believe me, Gerard, I will put up with the loss without a murmur; only confess, and let the worry be done with." Gerard Hope looked at her: little trace of shame was there in his countenance. "Lady Sarah," he asked in a deeply earnest tone, "can you indeed deem me capable of taking your bracelet?" "The bracelet was there, sir; and it went; and you can't deny it," cried the colonel. "The bracelet was there, sure enough," assented Gerard. "I held it in my hand for two or three minutes, and was talking to Alice about it. I told her I wished it was mine--and I said what I should do with it if it was." "Oh, Mr. Hope, pray say no more," involuntarily interrupted Alice. "What do you want to screen him for?" impetuously broke forth the colonel, turning upon Alice. "Let him say what he was going to say." "I do not know why I should not say it," Gerard Hope answered, in his spirit of bravado, which he disdained to check. "I said I should pledge it." "You'll send off to every pawnbroker's in the metropolis, before the night's over, Mr. Officer," cried the choking colonel, breathless with rage. "This beats everything." "But I did not take it any the more for having said that," put in Gerard, in a graver tone. "The remark might have been made by any one, from a duke downwards, if reduced to his last shifts, as I am. I said _if_ it were mine: I did not say I would steal it. Nor did I." "I saw him put it down again," said Alice, in a calm, steady voice.