If Lady Sarah’s expressed opinion was not genuine, it was an excellent piece of acting. She was frank, sympathetic, kindly, and not in the least inclined to exaggerate the importance of the loss, or to impute blame to Rhoda. “It’s--it’s a dreadful thing for me,” stammered Rhoda, without quite knowing whether she was or was not ashamed of her own suspicions. “Why? You surely don’t suppose we think it was your fault? As Sir Robert himself says, it is just as likely that his keys were used as that yours were.” Rhoda shook her head. “They were taken out of my pocket--and put back again,” she said shortly. “They were missing when I first came back from the Priory, and they were restored during the time I was talking to Sir Robert about it.” “Then they were taken by some one who must have watched you go in and out of your room?” “Yes.” “Does Sir Robert know that?” “Not yet. I only found the keys replaced ten minutes before I came down to dinner.” “He will be in here within a few minutes now, and we will consult together about laying a trap for the thief.” Rhoda said nothing. She was confused, her head seemed to be spinning. There was no hint of any accusation in Lady Sarah’s manner, nothing but sympathetic regret for the girl’s own sake in her voice and manner. But yet Rhoda did not trust her, did not even now really doubt that her first impression was the correct one. She looked at the fire, and turning suddenly, caught an expression in Lady Sarah’s eyes which was not at all benevolent. And she was completely reinstated in her first opinion. It was Lady Sarah, and no other, who, for what motive she did not yet know, had lain in wait for an opportunity of obtaining the keys, had obtained the possession of the three snuff-boxes, and who had then found means of replacing the keys in the pocket while she knew Rhoda to be downstairs. “Well, it won’t happen again,” said Rhoda drily. “I am going to give back my keys to Sir Robert this evening, and I will never take charge of them again.” “He won’t let you give them up.” “He will have no choice,” said Rhoda, with decision. “How obstinate you are,” complained Lady Sarah petulantly. “I don’t think any one would act differently in my position,” said Rhoda. “Then he is to lose your help, after having learnt to depend upon it?” Rhoda, with a flush in her cheeks, and speaking in a trembling voice, rushed nervously at the opportunity thus presented: “Well, why don’t you give him the help he wants yourself? It’s easy enough, and think how grateful he would be to you! When he prizes every word and look from you, it would make him so happy if you only would interest yourself in his collection. Do this, take care of his keys yourself, and whatever you don’t care to do, in the way of cataloguing and deciphering notes, and all that, give to me yourself, and let me do it for you instead of for him.”