"Never mind; the diamond bracelet was found." "Thank goodness!" gasped Denville. "By Major Rockley." "Who gave it back?" "No; who has pocketed it, and will keep it; while Barclay will most likely credit you." "Impossible, my lord!" "Possible, Denville. I tell you there must be no more robberies here. Hang it, man, stand up." "A sudden giddiness, my lord. I am better now. I will get the jewels back. But, one moment, my lord, are you really quite sure?" "I am certain." "But Major Rockley may mean--" "Hush, Denville. What do you know of handsome Rockley? Do you think he will give the jewels back if he can get them away? Act; at once." "Suppose he is wrong," said Denville to himself, as he went off on his painful task. "What an insult to an officer--the Prince's friend." "I dare not do it," he said after a pause. "It must be some mistake. Such an act would be the work of a common thief. He must be wrong." He shrank from his task, but he felt that it must be done, for how could he let it go forth that there had been another diamond robbery from his house. It was impossible. As he hesitated he caught sight of Lord Carboro' watching him. Barclay too was there, evidently about to speak to him, and he felt that he must. Better to offend Major Rockley than have another scandal. He mingled among his guests with a word here and there, sending some downstairs, and interfering in a _tete-a-tete_ between May and Sir Harry Payne, who had at last won a promise from the giddy little creature to whom he was paying court. He then went up to Rockley, snuff-box in hand, and addressed him as he was leaning against the chimney-piece. "I'm afraid our little reunion has no charms for you, Major Rockley," he said. "On the contrary, my dear Denville, I am delighted." "But you have had no refreshment. Pray come down." "Without a lady?" "Yes, without a lady. Or, no, I will speak now, and you can go afterwards. A little mistake, Major Rockley. You'll pardon me; a little mistake." His heart sank as he spoke, and he trembled almost guiltily at the task he had in hand. The Major's dark eyes flashed as he scowled at him. "If you mean, sir, that by addressing--" "No, no, Major Rockley; a little mistake. You thought you dropped your snuff-box." "I thought I dropped my snuff-box, sir? Are you mad?" "You'll pardon me, Major Rockley, no. You made a mistake; it is my duty to see the matter right. You imagined that you dropped your snuff-box, and you picked it up, when you were seated a little while ago." "Well, sir?" If Lord Carboro' had made a mistake, how dare he meet that man again? "You do not seem to understand me, Major Rockley. The case you picked up was not a snuff-box, but contained jewels belonging to one of my guests." "I did not know your guests carried their jewels in cases, Mr Denville," said the Major, with a forced laugh. "They seem to be wearing them."