“What are you going to do about it?” Mrs. Faulks stared at her. “I imagine there is only one thing to be done. I have desired Colonel Beach to send for the police. I should have thought that was obvious.” “Oh, Tom, you mustn’t!” Sally cried. “Really! My dear, you don’t realize what you’re saying.” “Yes, I do. You don’t understand, Mrs. Faulks; you see it was like this----” and out it all came with the Colonel trying to stop it in confused exclamations, and Mrs. Faulks and her heavy son sinking deeper and deeper into stupefaction. “The whole affair was a practical joke?” said Faulks thickly. “That’s the idea, old thing,” Cosdon assured him. “Yes, yes, don’t you see it?” Sally giggled. “I never heard anything so disgraceful,” Faulks pronounced. “I say, go easy,” Cosdon cried. Mrs. Faulks had become pale. “Am I expected to believe this?” she looked from Tom to Alice. “Oh, Mrs. Faulks, I am so sorry,” Alice Beach said. “It was too bad. And it’s really all my fault.” “I--I--you say you stole my rubies?” Mrs. Faulks turned upon Sally. “Come, come, the child took them for a joke,” Colonel Beach protested. “I took them, yes--and then I lost them. I’m most awfully sorry about that.” “Are you indeed. Am I to believe this tale, Colonel Beach? Then pray who stole my diamond necklace?” She produced an awful silence. She seemed proud of it, and in a fascination of horror the conspirators stared at her. “Diamond necklace!” Sally cried. “I never saw it.” “My necklace is gone. I don’t profess to understand the ideas of joking in this house. But my necklace is gone.” “Oh, my lord,” said Cosdon. “That’s torn it.” “The snowball!” Alice gasped. “It is a snowball. Everything gets in something else.” “Really!” said Mrs. Faulks (her one expletive). “I do not understand you.” Reggie arose and cut himself a large portion of cold beef. “If this was a practical joke,” said the solemn voice of Faulks, “who struck me?” “That was me, old thing,” Cosdon smiled upon him. “But strictly speakin’,” said Reggie as he came back and took more toast, “that’s irrelevant.” “Colonel Beach!” Mrs. Faulks commanded the wretched man’s attention, “what do you propose to do?” “We shall have to have the police,” he groaned. “Oh, yes, it’s a case for the police,” said Reggie cheerfully. “Have you a telegraph form, Colonel?” “It’s all right, Fortune, thanks. I’ll telephone.” “Yes, encourage local talent. But I would like to send a wire to Scotland Yard.” “Scotland Yard!” Mrs. Faulks was impressed. Mrs. Faulks smiled on him. “Well, you know, there are points about your case, Mrs. Faulks. I think they would be interested.”