"To be wrongly suspected, as poor Lettice Lane was, ought to make people all the more considerate to her," remarked Janet, her thoughts no doubt reverting to the time when she herself was falsely suspected--and accused. "True, my dear," answered old Tamlyn. "Poor Lettice must have had her troubles." "And she has had her faults," retorted Cattledon. But this story had made an impression on Dr. Knox that Cattledon never suspected, never intended. He took up the idea that Lettice Lane was guilty. Going into Mr. Tamlyn's sitting-room for "Martin Chuzzlewit," when tea was over, I found his hand on my shoulder. He had silently followed me. "Johnny Ludlow," he said, looking down into my eyes in the dim room, which was only lighted by the dim fire, "I don't like this that I have heard of Lettice Lane." And the next to come in was Tamlyn. Closing the door, he walked up to the hearthrug where we stood, and stirred the fire into a blaze. "I am telling Johnny Ludlow that this story of Miss Deveen's emeralds has made an unfavourable impression on me," quoth Dr. Knox to him. "It does not appear to me to be at all clear that Lettice Lane did not take them; and that Miss Deveen, in her benevolence, screened her from the consequences." "But, indeed----" I was beginning, when Dr. Knox stopped me. "A moment, Johnny. I was about to add that a woman who is capable of one crime can sometimes be capable of another; and I should not be surprised if it is Lettice Lane who is tampering with Lady Jenkins." "But," I repeated, "Lettice Lane did _not_ take the jewels. She knew nothing about it. She was perfectly innocent." "You cannot answer for it, Johnny." "Yes, I can; and do. I know who did take them." "_You_ know, Johnny Ludlow?" cried old Tamlyn, while Dr. Knox looked at me in silence. "I helped Miss Deveen to find it out. At least, she had me with her during the progress of the discovery. It was a lady who took the jewels--as Miss Cattledon told you. She fainted away when it was brought home to her, and fell on my shoulder." I believe they hardly knew whether to give me credit or not. Of course it did sound strange that I, young Johnny Ludlow, should have been entrusted by Miss Deveen with a secret she would not disclose even to her many years' companion and friend, Jemima Cattledon. "Who was it, then, Johnny?" began Mr. Tamlyn. "I should not like to tell, sir. I do not think it would be right to tell. For the young lady's own sake, Miss Deveen hushed the matter up, hoping it would be a warning to her in future. And I dare say it has been." "Young, was she?" "Yes. She has married since then. I could not, in honour, tell you her name." "Well, I suppose we must believe you, Johnny," said Dr. Knox, making the admission unwillingly. "Lettice Lane did get fingering the jewels, it appears; you admit that."