"Yes, she keeps her account books and money in there, things she uses in her work. You see she’s been thoroughly trusted—never looked upon as anything but perfectly honest and reliable." "Then she’s filled her position to Mrs. Janney’s satisfaction?" "Entirely. Of course we really don’t know very much about her. She was highly recommended when she came, but people in her position if they do their work well—one doesn’t bother much about them." "Have you noticed anything in her conduct or manner of life lately that could—er—have any connection with or throw any light on such an action?" Suzanne pondered for a moment then said: "No—she’s always been about the same. She’s gone into the city more this summer than she did last year, on her holidays, I mean. And—oh yes, this may be important—that night, when we came home from dinner, she asked my mother if she could have the following day—Saturday—in town. Mrs. Janney said she might and she went in before any of the family were up." "Um," murmured Mr. Larkin and then fell into a silence in which he appeared to be digesting this last item. When he spoke again it was to propound a question that ruffled Suzanne’s composure and caused her blue eyes to give out a sudden spark: "Do you happen to know if she has any admirer—lover or fiancé or anything of that sort?" "I know nothing whatever about it, but I should say _not_. Certainly I never heard of such a person. I never saw any man in the least attracted by her and I should imagine she was a girl who had no charm for the other sex." Mr. Larkin stirred in a slow, large way and said: "Such a robbery is a pretty big thing for a girl like that to attempt. She must know—any one would—that jewels like Mrs. Janney’s are hard to dispose of without detection." Suzanne shrugged, her tone showing an edge of irritation: "That may be the case, I suppose it is. But couldn’t she have been employed by some one—aren’t there gangs who put people on the spot to rob for them?" "Certainly there are. And that would be the most plausible explanation. Not necessarily a gang, however, an individual might be behind her. At this stage, knowing what I do, that would be my idea. But, of course, I can say nothing until I’m better informed. What I’ll do now will be to look up her record and then I think I’ll take a run down to Berkeley and see if I can pick up anything there." Suzanne looked uneasy: "But you’ll be careful, and not let any one guess what you’re doing or that you have any business with me?" He smiled openly at that: "Mrs. Price, you can trust me. This is not my first case."