"That’s strange," she said, startled. "Yes, I can see that was possible, too." "Now, what I was working on," said McKenna, "was the strongest motive—that whoever took it up, took it because he had to take it to raise money, to pay a debt or to gamble on the market. So I investigated two ways—first, the back histories and the present standing of every one at your party; second, in the great jewelry shops, to find out if the ring had been sold or pawned." "Of course." "I didn’t believe it had been done openly—that would have been too risky—but through some channel like Mapleson. But I wasn’t thinking of Mapleson then. I couldn’t locate the ring. I found out that Bloodgood, Cheever, Mrs. Cheever, Miss Lille and Garraboy had all speculated heavily on the market next day. That didn’t help much. Now I come to my interview with you." Mrs. Kildair nodded and leaned forward slightly. "That worried me. After that, I did one thing and thought another. Down at the bottom, there was something that kept me thinking about you, something that bothered me. That’s where the guess-work comes in, but I don’t know as I’d call it guess-work. It’s an instinct you get when you come in contact with a person—it’s put me on the right track many a time. I saw you didn’t want anything done, but what fooled me was, I thought it was—" He hesitated, and then said boldly: "Mrs. Kildair, no use talking unless we say what we mean, is there?" "Quite right, be professional," she said with a quick nod. "You thought I wished to conceal what my true relations were with Slade? That’s it, isn’t it?" "Yes, that was it," he said slowly. "And being wrong myself, I figured out a possible motive. I was dead sure you knew who had taken the ring. Don’t ask how—that’s instinct—but I knew. So I figured out it was blackmail you were afraid of, and I began looking around for the lady or gentleman who would know that the ring had belonged to Slade. Do you see?" "Yes, go on. It’s very plausible." "It looked like Garraboy, and it looked like the Cheevers at times," he said. "Then Mr. Beecher told me of seeing Mapleson in Mrs. Cheever’s box at the opera, and that you said you knew him. That’s what started me on Mapleson. Likewise, I began thinking more and more about that interview with you. Then came your engagement and I flung over all my theories, and got down to work. I began to look you up, and when I found out the situation from Mapleson, I made up my mind then and there, for one reason or another, you yourself took the ring the second time." "Is that all?" "No, this evening I got the last link I’d been waiting for." "What’s that?" "Your account with your broker, and the record of sales," he said, bringing out a slip from his pocket. "Do you get convictions on such evidence as this?" she said steadily. "No," he said frankly; "but I get confessions." "Why should I take my own ring?"