She spoke so loud they heard her in the next room, and Lord Castlecourt came in. He was a tall gentleman, a little bald, and I can see him now in his black clothes, with the white of his shirt bosom gleaming, standing in the doorway looking at her. He had a surprised expression on his face, and was frowning a little; for he hated anything like loud talking or a scene. “What’s the matter, Gladys?” he said. “You’re making such a noise I heard you in my room. Is there a fire?” She made a sort of grasp at the case, and tried to hide it. Chawlmers was in the doorway behind my lord, and I saw him staring at her and trying not to. He told me afterward she was as white as paper. “The diamonds,” she faltered out--“your diamonds--your family’s--your mother’s.” Lord Castlecourt gave a start, and seemed to stiffen. He did not move from where he was, but stood rigid, looking at her. “What’s the matter with them?” he said, quick and quiet, but not as if he was calm. She threw the case she had been trying to hide on the dressing-table. It knocked over some bottles, and lay there open and empty. My lord sprang at it, took it up, and shook it. “Gone?” he said, turning to my lady. “Stolen, do you mean?” “Yes--yes--yes,” she said, like that--three times; and then she fell back in the chair and put her hands over her face. Lord Castlecourt turned to me. “What’s this mean, Jeffers? You’ve had charge of the diamonds.” I told him all I knew and as well as I could, what with my legs trembling that they’d scarce support me, and my tongue dry as a piece of leather. When I got toward the end, my lady interrupted me, crying out: “Herbert, it isn’t my fault, it isn’t! Jeffers will tell you I’ve taken good care of them. I’ve not been careless or forgetful about them, as I have about other things. I _have_ been careful of them! It isn’t my fault, and you mustn’t blame me!” Lord Castlecourt made a sort of gesture toward her to be still. I could see it meant that. He kept the case, and, going to the door, locked it. “How long have you been in these rooms?” he said, turning round on me with the key in his hand. I told him, trembling, and almost crying. I had never seen my lord look so terribly stern. I don’t know whether he was angry or not, but I was afraid of him, and it was for the first time; for he’d always been a kind and generous master to me and the other servants. “Oh, my lord,” I said, feeling suddenly weighed down with dread and misery, “you surely don’t think I took them?” “I’m not thinking anything,” he said. “You and Chawlmers are to stay in this room, and not move from it till you get my orders. I’ll send at once for the police.” My lady turned round in her chair and looked at him. “The police?” she said. “Oh, Herbert, wait till to-morrow! You’re not even sure yet that they are stolen.”