“And a search must be made,” broke in Colonel Kingston Bruce. “Quite so. I give you carte blanche, Mr. Blunt. Search the house from attic to cellar.”
“Oh! Charles,” murmured Mrs. Kingston Bruce tearfully. “Do you think that is wise? The servants won’t like it. I’m sure they’ll leave.”
“We will search their quarters last,” said Tommy soothingly. “The thief is sure to have hidden the gem in the most unlikely place.”
“I seem to have read something of the kind,” agreed the Colonel.
“Quite so,” said Tommy. “You probably remember the case of Rex. v. Bailey which created a precedent.”
“Oh—er—yes,” said the Colonel looking puzzled.
“Now, the most unlikely place is in the apartments of Mrs. Betts,” continued Tommy.
“My! Wouldn’t that be too cute?” said Mrs. Betts admiringly.
Without more ado, she took him up to her room where Tommy once more made use of the special photographic apparatus.
Presently Tuppence joined him there.
“You have no objection, I hope, Mrs. Betts, to my assistant’s looking through your wardrobe?”
“Why, not at all. Do you need me here any longer?”
Tommy assured her that there was no need to detain her, and Mrs. Betts departed.
“We might as well go on bluffing it out,” said Tommy. “But personally I don’t believe we’ve a dog’s chance of finding the thing. Curse you and