’Your jewels are here,’ he said, showing her a secret drawer in a large old cabinet. ’I give you the key. Do not leave it about; though nothing is to be feared from Genefer or Hender, yet it is wise to keep articles of value under lock and key, and not to trust the key to any one.’ ’They are of no value. They are paste.’ ’I beg your pardon, they are not. I took them to a jeweller, who examined them. Some of the stones had been abstracted at some time, and replaced by artificial diamonds, by whom and when, I cannot, of course, say. I have had all these taken out, and true stones of good quality put in their places. The necklet and diadem are now perfect as at first.’ Mirelle was surprised. ’You think the set of diamonds was originally complete.’ ’I am convinced it was so.’ ’And that the stones had been removed and paste substitutes put instead into the sockets.’ ’I believe so.’ ’Then you do not think my father gave what was worthless to my mother?’ ’I cannot suppose so. It is not likely. The pendant was tampered with more thoroughly than the rest of the set, because it was removable. Probably after that had been altered, one by one the stones of the necklace were removed. Some person in need of money disposed of the stones as the need came.’ Mirelle thought. ’Yes,’ she said, ’I have no doubt it was done by Antoinette.’ ’Who was Antoinette?’ ’My mother’s maid, who did everything for her. I am glad to think that my father was not guilty of a mean act. I thank you for clearing his memory from such a stain. Henceforth I shall believe that Antoinette was guilty.’ ’So be it; and from henceforth I hope you will realise the necessity of keeping precious stones under lock and key. Show them to nobody unnecessarily, and, above all, show nobody where they are kept.’ They spoke to each other with perfect coolness and self-possession. Pyramus and Thisbe met and conversed with a wall between; John Herring and Mirelle were separated by an invisible wall, but it was one of ice. ’I have brought you, as well, the key of my office on Willapark. I keep there my accounts of the slate-quarry. Should anything from the office be required, the foreman will come to you. If not asking too much, I would wish him not to be given free run over it, and that you should be present when he wants anything. There are things there which I do not care for him to turn over, papers and accounts among which I do not wish him to rummage. You will do me this favour?’ ’Certainly. Are you going away?’ ’I am going away for a while. You know that I am working a valuable silver lead mine on the borders of Dartmoor, and it must be looked after.’ Why did he not say where it was—’near West Wyke? where you and I first met, where your father died?’ He did not say this, because it would be painful for him to say it, and for her to hear it. The name would call up recollections they must endeavour to crush out of their minds. ’You will return again?’