"I am." Then turning to her husband, "I want Inspector Baddeley to see Coombes--poor girl--she's in a terrible way. I think she can already visualize herself being hanged at least. But as honest as the day, Inspector, so don't frighten her."
"I'll try not to, I'm sure," grunted Baddeley. "Roper!"
"Get full particulars of this missing necklace from Sir Charles and take the usual steps. If you send for Coombes," to Lady Considine, "I'll see her now."
"Enter Coombes L.U.E.," smiled Anthony. "As innocent as the 'rathe' primrose by the river's brim."
"Don't count chickens before the hatching stage is completed, Mr. Bathurst. I've known crooks that looked like choristers, and bishops that looked like burglars."
"That comes of judging people by their looks, Inspector," chaffed back Anthony, "instead of by their actions."
Coombes entered. Scared to death! She was a tall girl, with wispy red hair and a big face. The sense of bigness was given by the face, by a long line of strong jaw. It was what I should have called a "horse's face." Pythagoras would have declared that she had transmigrated from a horse. She opened the proceedings by bursting into loud sobbing.
"It's all my fault, Mr. Policeman," she managed to get out between her sobs. "I'll tell the truth. I promised mother when I came into service I'd tell the truth _always_, so I'll tell it now, even though I shall cop out for it--but it's all my fault and God's own mercy that we haven't _all_ been murdered." She paused for breath.
"Come, come, my girl, what is all your fault?" demanded Baddeley.
"Why, sir ... this.... I d-d-don't believe I put the n-n-necklace case away at all!"
"You mean you left it lying where Lady Considine had left it?"
"Y-y-yes! I meant to put it away first thing that morning when my Lady told me to--but something put it out of my mind and made me forget it ... and I never saw it again to make me remember it. At least I don't think I did."
"You can't be sure of that, you know ..." remarked the Inspector. "Because you didn't see it, doesn't prove it wasn't there." He turned to Sir Charles. "Any strange characters been knocking about lately, that you've noticed?"
"H'm! Probably an inside job. With your permission I'll step up to the bedroom in question, a little later on, Sir Charles! Perhaps you gentlemen would care to accompany me? I'll adjourn down here, temporarily. All right, Coombes--you come along with us."
