It was Monday evening, Ellice was in bed, and Mr. Medhurst had not yet returned from a day in town, and Margaret (deciding it would be very comfortable to take a book and read in her own domain) went upstairs determined to have an extra rest. She passed Mrs. Medhurst's room on her way, and as she did so a slight sound attracted her attention. To her amazement she saw the flash of an electric light, and then caught sight of a figure bending over the dressing-table and evidently gazing intently at something she held in her left hand, while with the right she concentrated the beam from her torch upon the object of interest. Margaret stood silently watching for a few moments, petrified with astonishment as she perceived what it was the light was concentrated upon. There was no mistaking her employer's beautiful figure. The door was wide open, and the girl was unnoticed by the occupant of the room, who was apparently so absorbed she did not notice the light tread as Margaret suddenly advanced to her side. The room was partly drowned in shadow, but a bright beam of moonlight lit up the two, the one so unconscious of the other's presence. Then a sharp cry burst involuntarily from Margaret's lips as she darted forward and caught Mrs. Medhurst's wrist in a firm grasp. "You--you!" she exclaimed, almost a ring of anguish in the indignant tones of her voice. A startled exclamation broke from her employer, as the lost necklace fell from her nerveless fingers. "You--you the _thief_, Mrs. Medhurst? Oh, I could never have dreamed it possible!" said Margaret agitatedly. "You--who pretended such sympathy, and help! No wonder you said you believed you could find it." The last words were bitter in their reproach. Mrs. Medhurst had somewhat recovered herself, although she clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. Then she stepped back a pace and drew herself up to her full height, and, forcing indignation into her voice, answered haughtily: "I think you must be mad! How dare you accuse me of such things! I will send you out of my house at a moment's notice if you repeat here, or to anyone else, your absurd accusations." Margaret was almost stunned by the answer; she felt herself falling into an awkward position, although the certainty still dwelt in her mind that in this superbly elegant woman before her she had discovered the thief she had been looking for. "If you did not take the necklace, Mrs. Medhurst, can you tell me how it comes to be in your possession?" she asked quietly. Meanwhile another figure had come softly up the stairs, and now stood in the doorway, a silent listener to the conversation.