"I'm sorry to disagree with the construction you put upon this incident, Mrs. Faulkner," and Bobsy turned to her as to the principal spokesman, "but to my mind it strengthens the case against Mrs. Stannard. It seems more than likely that she had the emeralds all the time, or knew where they were. She kept them hidden, because she thought the letter written by her husband, tacitly gave the gems to Miss Vernon. Then when Miss Vernon saw her, looking at the jewels, Mrs. Stannard thought better to face the music and own up that she had them." "Why I didn't let her know that I saw her!" exclaimed Natalie. "Perhaps she saw you in a mirror, or heard you. Doubtless she knew in some way that you had seen her looking at the jewels, and concluded to tell the story that accounted for them." Joyce Stannard looked at the speaker, and her face blanched. With a desperate cry of distress, she turned and swiftly left the room. Roberts kept a wary eye on her retreating figure, and as she went upstairs, he made no attempt to recall or to follow her. "She has practically condemned herself," he said. "The reappearance of the emeralds seems to settle it." "Why?" asked Beatrice Faulkner. "Why do you condemn her because of that?" "Look at it squarely, Mrs. Faulkner. Assume for a moment my theory is right. Then, Mrs. Stannard, being guilty, and wishing to throw suspicion on Miss Vernon, claims that the jewels were put in her room surreptitiously during the night. She is sure Miss Vernon will be suspected of having had the jewels, and, frightened, restored them secretly. This will militate against Miss Vernon, and imply her greater guilt also." "Why, what an idea!" exclaimed Natalie. "As if I ever had the emeralds!" "That letter said you knew where they were." "That letter was not written to me." "To whom then?" "I've no idea. But not to me. I'm--I'm engaged to Barry." "You weren't engaged to the son while the father was alive," probed Roberts. "N--no. But only because his father wouldn't allow it. I'm going to look after Joyce," and without a backward glance, Natalie ran from the room, and up the stairs.