I spoke impulsively, in sheer desperation; and the instant the words
were out I would have cut off my hand to take back the stupid falsehood.
But what good to deny what I had just said? The men wouldn't have
believed me.
"When the police had gone, I asked Mr. Dundas for my letters. But he
thought he had given them to me--and he knew no more of the diamonds in
their red case than I did--far less, indeed.
"I was distracted to find that my letters had disappeared, though I was
thankful for Raoul's sake, to have the necklace. Mr. Dundas believed
that his own leather case with the letters must have been stolen from
his pocket in the train, though he couldn't imagine why the diamonds had
been given to him instead. But he suspected a travelling companion of
his, who had acted queerly; and he determined to try and find the man.
He was to bring me news after the theatre at my house, about midnight.
"He came fifteen minutes later, having been detained at his hotel.
Friends of his had unexpectedly arrived. He had just time to tell me
this, and that after going out on a false scent he had employed a
detective named Girard, when Monsieur du Laurier arrived unexpectedly.
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