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Page 37
"Now, my boys," said the Doctor, when all had assembled, "I want to
take you all into my confidence, and shall be glad, in the interest of
all, if what is now said is kept as much as possible to ourselves. The
matter about which I have called you together is one that has caused me
much anxiety, and I shall be thankful if you can allay my uneasiness.
You will remember that last night Mrs. Brier showed you a casket of
trinkets and curiosities, amongst them a valuable miniature painting
and an antique snuff-box. I am sorry to say that these are missing.
Careful and diligent search has been made for them, but they cannot be
found. Can any of you throw light on the subject? Is it possible that
by accident one of you may have mislaid them, or inadvertently have
carried them away?"
Anxious glances were exchanged from one to the other as each answered
in the negative. An awkward pause followed.
"And now," said the Doctor, "it is my painful duty to ask you
separately whether you know anything whatever about the matter. For the
sake of each, and the honor of all, I charge you to tell me truth as in
the sight of God. Herbert, do you know anything about it?"
"No, sir."
"Marsden, do you?"
"No, sir; nothing whatever. I saw the things and thought I saw Mrs.
Brier put them back in the box."
"Do you know anything, McDonald?"
"I do not, sir."
"Do you, Pemberton?"
"No, sir."
"Do you, Morton?"
Digby stammered and hesitated. The Doctor repeated his question.
"I know nothing for certain, sir. But I--I think--" and he held to the
back of a chair with a very determined clutch as he again hesitated,
and began to speak.
"What do you think, man? Speak out," said the Doctor.
"I think I ought to mention a circumstance, but I shall prefer speaking
to you alone."
"Does it relate to any one present?"
"It does."
"Then I must have it told here. But let me first continue my question
to each one present."
The question went round, and the answer in each case was in the
negative.
"Now, Morton, I must ask you to state what you know of this matter, or
rather what you suspect, and I leave it to your good sense to say only
that which you think it absolutely necessary for me to know."
There was a dead silence. Every eye was turned toward Digby with
intense interest, while he fixed his gaze steadily upon the floor.
"I saw Howard Pemberton putting the miniature in his breast coat-pocket
last evening, sir, when we were in your drawing-room. I said to him,
'I've caught you, have I.' He made no reply to me, but turned away,
very red in the face--"
"It is false--wickedly false," cried Howard, in a passionate burst of
feeling.
"He states it is false," continued Digby, "but I will appeal to Fraser
or McDonald, who saw it, or better still, to Martin Venables, who also
saw it, and made some remark in apology for him!"
"Do you know of anything else, directly or indirectly, that you think
should come to my knowledge?" asked the Doctor.
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