tell you I don't believe a word of it. Took it for a joke,
indeed! I only wish my husband were here; he'd know what to do."

"Your husband couldn't do much more than get your bracelet back,
ma'am," Mrs. Lawrence replied with acerbity. "Such a fuss and
calling every one thieves, too! I'd be ashamed to be so
suspicious."

Mrs. Fitzgerald glared haughtily at her hostess.

"It's all very well for those that don't possess any jewelry and
don't know the value of it, to talk," she declared, with her eyes
fixed upon a black jet ornament which hung from the other woman's
neck. "What I say is this, and you may just as well hear it from
me now as later. I don't believe this cock-and-bull story of Mr.
Tavernake's. Them as took my bracelet from that table meant
keeping it, only they hadn't the courage. And I'm not referring
to you, Mr. Tavernake," the lady continued vigorously, "because I
don't believe you took it, for all your talk about a joke. And
whom you may be shielding it wouldn't take me two guesses to
name, and your motive must be clear to every one. The common
hussy!"

"You are exciting yourself unnecessarily, Mrs. Fitzgerald,"
Tavernake remarked. "Let me assure you that it was I who took
your bracelet from that table."

Mrs. Fitzgerald regarded him scornfully.

"Do you expect me to believe a tale like that?" she demanded.