Betts came down for the weekend. Last night—we were playing Bridge at the time—the clasp of a pendant Mrs. Hamilton Betts was wearing broke, so she took it off and laid it down on a small table, meaning to take it upstairs with her when she went. This, however, she forgot to do. I must explain, Mr. Blunt, that the pendant consisted of two small diamond wings, and a big pink pearl depending from them. The pendant was found this morning lying where Mrs. Betts had left it, but the pearl, a pearl of enormous value, had been wrenched off.”
“Who found the pendant?”
“The parlormaid—Gladys Hill.”
“Any reason to suspect her?”
“She has been with us some years, and we have always found her perfectly honest. But, of course, one never knows—”
“Exactly. Will you describe your staff, and also tell me who was present at dinner last night?”
“There is the cook—she has been with us only two months, but then she would have no occasion to go near the drawing-room—the same applies to the kitchen maid. Then there is the housemaid, Alice Cummings. She also has been with us for some years. And Lady Laura’s maid, of course. She is French.”
Colonel Kingston Bruce looked very impressive as he said this. Tommy, unaffected by the revelation of the maid’s nationality, said: “Exactly. And the party at dinner?”
“ Mr. and