A PLOT AGAINST ROBERT.
Frederic Vernon lost no time in acquainting his aunt with his
discovery.
Finding himself alone with her that evening, he said: "I am afraid,
aunt, you did not exercise much caution when you selected young Frost
as your secretary."
"Explain yourself, Frederic."
"It is only a few days since he was arrested for theft in a dry goods
store."
"Well?"
"Surely you don't approve of employing a thief?"
"No, but he was innocent."
"How do you know? Does he say so?"
"I was in the store when he was arrested."
"And yet you engaged him?"
"The arrest was a mistake. The real thief was found and is now serving
a sentence."
"I didn't suppose you knew of this incident in the life of your
secretary."
"And you hoped to injure him by mentioning it to me."
"I thought you would see that you had made a bad choice."
"Then you made a mistake. Thus far I am quite satisfied with my
choice."
Frederic Vernon was mortified by his lack of success, but determined
to follow up his attack upon Robert, and to get him into trouble if he
could. He had still free entrance into the house of his aunt, and
occasionally occupied his own room there.
One day in passing his aunt's chamber, seeing the door ajar, he
entered, and soon discovered on her bureau a valuable ring.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, as a contemptible thought entered his mind. "I
think I can give young Frost some trouble."
He took the ring, and carrying it into Robert's room, put it in a
drawer of the bureau. In the evening he took supper in the house. His
aunt looked perplexed.
"What is the matter, aunt?" he asked.
"I miss my diamond ring--the cluster diamond--which was a gift from
your uncle."
"That is serious. When did you see it last?"
"I think I left it on my bureau this morning. Of course, it was
careless, but I felt that there was no danger of its being lost or
taken."
"Humph! I don't know about that. Was it valuable?"
"I suppose so. In fact, a jeweler told me once that it was worth five
hundred dollars."
"It might tempt a thief. Aunt, let me make a suggestion."
"Well?"
"I slept here last night. I should like to have you search my chamber
to make sure it is not there."
"Nonsense, Frederic! As if I could suspect you."
"No, it is not nonsense. What do you say, Mr. Frost?"
"I am perfectly willing to have my room searched, Mr. Vernon."
"I don't suspect either of you," said Mrs. Vernon. "I will look again
in my own room."
"Aunt, that will be well, but I insist on your searching my room also,
and Mr. Frost is willing to have you search his."
Reluctantly Mrs. Vernon followed her nephew upstairs, and first
examined her own chamber, but the ring was not found.
Next she entered Frederic's room. He made great ado of opening all the
drawers of his bureau, and searching every available place, but again
the ring was not found.
"You see, the search is unnecessary, Frederic," said his aunt.
"Still I shall feel better for its having been made."
"Then we will stop here."
"If Robert does not want his room searched he can say so," said Vernon
significantly.
Robert colored, for he felt the insinuation.
"I wish you to search my room," he said proudly.
Frederic Vernon conducted the examination.
He searched every other place first. Finally he opened a small drawer
of the bureau, and uttered an exclamation.
"What is this?" he asked, as he drew out the ring and held it up. "Is
this your ring, aunt?"
"Yes," she answered calmly.
"Mrs. Vernon," said Robert, in an agitated tone, "I hope you don't
think I had anything to do with taking the ring."
"The case is plain," said Frederic Vernon severely. "You may as well
confess, and I will ask my aunt to let you off. Of course she cannot
retain you in her employ, but I will ask her not to prosecute you."
Robert looked anxiously yet proudly into the face of his employer.
"Don't feel anxious, Robert," she said, "I haven't the slightest
suspicion of you."
"Then, aunt, how do you account for the ring being found in the room
of your secretary?"
"Because," said Mrs. Vernon, "it was placed there."
"Exactly. That is my opinion."
"But not by him."
"Not by him? What do you mean?"
"By you. I was in my room this afternoon, and heard steps in his
chamber; I knew that it was not Robert, for I had sent him out on an
errand. Presently you came downstairs. It was you who placed the ring
where it was found, Frederic Vernon," she said sternly.
"If that is the opinion you have of me, aunt," said Vernon, who could
not help betraying confusion, "I will bid you good-evening."
"You may as well. Your attempt to ruin the reputation of your
successor by a false charge is contemptible."
Vernon did not attempt to answer this accusation, but turning on his
heel left the room.
"Thank you for your justice, Mrs. Vernon," said Robert gratefully. "I
was afraid you might believe me a thief."
"I should not, even if I had not positive knowledge that Frederic had
entered into a conspiracy against you. He has done himself no good by
this base attempt to blacken your reputation. We will let the matter
drop and think no more of it."