The Ponsonby Diamonds | Page 8

way from the house when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw, to my surprise, that Captain Ponsonby was following me.
"'I noticed that you had gone out,' he said, 'and took the liberty of coming after you.' He grew red as he spoke. 'I want to say something to you,' he said; 'something of importance. Can we go somewhere where we can be alone?'
"I told him that I was going to walk through the shrubbery, and that he might, if he pleased, accompany me there; 'but,' I added, 'I shall not be out long, for I am anxious about Lady Violet and want to return to her.'
"We entered the shrubbery as I spoke. He did not speak at all for a moment; then he said, with a sort of abruptness which surprised me:--
"'I will not keep you long. I am glad of this opportunity.' Here he paused, and, turning, looked me full in the face.
"'If you will give me back the diamonds,' he said, 'I will faithfully promise to arrange matters so that not a breath of suspicion shall rest upon you.'
"I felt as if I were shot. His words took me so completely by surprise that I could no: find either breath or speech for a moment.
"'Do you really think,' I said then, in a choking voice--'is it possible that you think, really, that I--I have stolen the diamonds?'
"I suppose my agitation confirmed his suspicions.
"He looked at me with a queer sort of pity.
"'I could see yesterday how struck you were with their beauty,' he said. 'Do you remember what you said about imprisoning the rainbow? The opportunity to take the diamonds was put into your hands. You could not resist the sudden temptation, but I am sure you are sorry now, and would return them if it were possible. I believe I can manage this for you, if you will confide in me.
"I turned quickly; my face was hot; my heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst.
"'Come with me at once to Lady Erstfield,' I said: 'say those words again in her presence. She shall search all my possessions. Come, don't delay a moment.'
"'You must be mad,' he said. 'For Heaven's sake don't inculpate yourself in that manner. As far as I am aware, I am the only person who, at present, suspects you. It has never, I know, even entered into Violet's head that you could have had anything to do with the robbery, and Lord and Lady Erstfield, I am sure, think you as innocent as themselves--they are the most loyal people in the world--they believe, and rightly, that they owe Violet's life to you. I don't think they could harbour an unkind thought of you. Lord Erstfield and I have talked over the loss for a couple of hours this morning, and your name has not once been mentioned in connection with it--I alone----'
"'You alone,' I interrupted, I entertain this horrible doubt against a defenceless girl?'
"'I am very sorry,' he replied, in a steady voice, 'but it is not even a doubt.' Here he looked full at me. 'In my mind it takes the form of a certainty. It is absolutely impossible that anyone else could have taken the diamonds. They are gone--you were last seen with them--you put them into the safe. You returned the keys to Lady Erstfield, who did not let them out of her possession until she gave them to you again this morning. You must see for yourself what the logical conclusion is--you are the culprit.'
"'No one else has come to that logical conclusion,' I answered.
"'I am a man of the world,' he replied.
"I stood perfectly still for a moment. His cool assurance seemed to deprive me almost of the power of thought. I turned to walk towards the house, but he barred my path.
"'What can I do to induce you to be guided by my common-sense?' he said. 'I can understand the sudden temptation--if you return the jewels to me, not a shadow of suspicion shall ever rest upon you from any other quarter.'
"'I think,' I said, in a trembling voice, 'that the only thing for me to do will be to adhere to my first resolution, to see Lady Erstfield in your presence--to ask you to accuse me of the theft before her---to insist upon having all my possessions searched, and then to leave Beeches immediately.'
"'You won't screen yourself by any such plan,' said Captain Ponsonby--'nay, your wish to leave Beeches will seem to all interested as a certain proof of your guilt. I wish I could get you to understand that I do not feel unkindly to you--that I am sincerely anxious to be your friend in this matter. I know you to be guilty. If you protested from now until Doomsday,