"Of course; every one in Melbourne knows that." "Did he know where they were kept?" "There's a safe in the room, and a thief, of course--" "Would go there first--precisely--but you forget the diamonds were taken out of the drawer of her looking-glass--a most unlikely place for a thief to examine. The man who stole the jewels must have known where they were kept." "Oh," said Fenton, and looked astonished, as he was quite unable to explain this. He was about to reply, when the train having arrived at its destination, they got out, and walked to Kitty's house. She was in the drawing-room writing letters and looked pale and haggard, her eyes having dark circles beneath them, which told of a sleepless night. When the two men entered the room she welcomed them gracefully, and then resumed her seat as they began to talk. "I have brought you Mr. Naball to look after this affair," said Fenton, looking at her. "You are very kind," she replied coldly; "but, the fact is, I have not yet decided about placing it in the hands of the police." "But the diamonds?"--began Fenton in amazement. "Were mine," finished Kitty coolly; "and as the loss is mine, not yours, I will act as I think fit in the matter." Then, turning her back on the discomfited Fenton, she addressed herself to the detective. "I should like your opinion on the subject," she said graciously, "and then I will see if the case can be gone on with." Naball, who had been keeping his keen eyes on her face the whole time, bowed. "Tell me all the details of the robbery," he observed cautiously. "They are simple enough," replied Kitty, folding her hands. "I bring them home from the theatre every night, and usually put them in the safe, which is in my room. On Saturday night, however, I was tired, and, I must confess, rather careless, and as the case was on my dressing-table, I placed it in the drawer of my looking-glass, to save me the trouble of going to the safe. I gave a supper party on Sunday night, and when every one had gone away, I went upstairs to bed, and found the window open; recollecting where I had put the diamonds, I opened the drawer and found them gone. My servants examined the ground beneath the window, and found footmarks on the mould of the flower-bed, so I suppose the thief must have entered by the window, stolen the jewels, and made off with them." When she had finished, Naball remained silent for a minute, but just as Fenton was about to speak, he interposed. "I will ask you a few questions, madame," he said thoughtfully. "When did you see the diamonds last?" "About six o'clock on Sunday night. I opened the drawer to get something, and saw the case." "Not the diamonds?" "They were in the case." "Are you sure?" "Where else would they be?" "Some one might have stolen them previously, and left the case there to avert suspicion." Kitty shook her head.