Part 53 (1/2)
”You mean you found it.”
”No. I didn't find it. I took it.”
”You must have found it first.”
”I looked for it,” said Lydia.
”Where?”
”In Esther's bag.”
Jeffrey stood staring at her, and Lydia unwinkingly stared at him. She was conscious of but one desire: that he would not scowl so. And yet she knew it was the effort of attention and no hostile sign. He spoke now, and gently because he saw how great a strain she was under.
”You'll have to tell me about it, Lydia. Where was the bag?”
”It was on her bed,” said Lydia. ”I went into the room and saw it there.
Madame Beattie told me she was going to New York--”
”That Madame Beattie was?”
”No. Esther. To hide the necklace. So Madame Beattie shouldn't get it.
And I saw the bag. And I knew the necklace must be in it. So I took it.”
By this time her hands were shaking and her lips chattered piteously.
Jeffrey was wholly perplexed, but bitterly sorry for her.
”What made you bring it here, dear?” said he.
Lydia caught at the endearing word, and something like a spasm moved her face.
”I had to,” said she. ”It has made all the trouble.”
”But I don't want it,” said Jeffrey. ”Whatever trouble it made is over and done with. However this came into Esther's hands--”
”Oh, I know how that was,” said Lydia. ”She stole it. Madame Beattie says so.”
”And whatever she is going to do with it now--that isn't a matter for me to meddle with.”
”Don't you care?” said Lydia, in a pa.s.sionate outcry. ”Now you've got it in your hand, don't you care?”
”Why,” said Jeff, ”what could I do with it?”
”If you know it's Madame Beattie's, you can take it to her and tell her she can go back to Europe and stop hounding you for money.”
”How do you know she's hounded me?”
”She says so. She wants you to get into politics and into business and pay her back.”
”But that's what you've wanted me to do yourself.”