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, '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, the firm conviction in my mind would still
be unshaken. May I state the case very briefly to you? Will you try
and listen as if I were telling you about some other girl? You took
the diamonds in a moment of acute temptation. You are, I presume, a
penniless girl. You admired the gems, not only for themselves but also
for the effect they produced when they shone like so many suns round
your warm, white throat. The price of these jewels was named in your
presence. If you could sell them, you would be rich--if you could keep
them and wear them, you would be beautiful enough to turn any man's
head. Yes, I understand--I pity, and I am most anxious to screen you.
No one else suspects you at present at Beeches, but that state of
things will not continue there much longer. As soon as the detectives
from London arrive, their suspicions will naturally be fastened on you.
Your youth and apparent innocence will in no way deceive them. They
will whisper doubts into the minds of Lord and Lady Erstfield, and into
the mind also of Lady Violet. The Ponsonby diamonds are of immense
historical importance--they have been mixed up with the fortunes of the
family for a couple of centuries, and it is absolutely impossible that
a girl like you can hide them successfully. Go where you will, you will
never be able to sell that necklace and pendant. Each diamond has a
story, and can be traced by experts into whatever hands it falls. You
can never sell the necklace, nor would you ever dare to wear it, except
in the privacy of your own room. I beg of you, therefore, to let me
have it back, and I solemnly swear that the secret shall never pass my
lips.'
"I listened to Captain Ponsonby's speech with great attention. The
buzzing in my ears and the great tumult round my heart had now to a
considerable extent subsided. I was able to bring my common-sense to
bear upon the matter, and to absolutely force myself to look the facts
in the face as they were presented to me from Captain Ponsonby's point
of view. Strange as it may seem, my whole nature became subjected to a
sort of revulsion, and far now from being angry with Captain Ponsonby
for his accusations, I could not but admire something chivalrous in him
which made him come as he thought to my assistance. My only wonder now
was, that the Erstfields and Lady Violet were not also convinced of my
guilt.
"I remained silent, therefore, for a couple of minutes before I replied.
"'I understand,' I said then, slowly, 'you have explained the position
of affairs. I see plainly how very black the circumstantial evidence
is against me. I am not surprised at your suspicions, and my wonder is
that they are not shared by the rest of the family. As it happens, I am
not the thief you imagine me.'
"When I said this, he sighed heavily, shook his head, and, turning,
began to walk slowly back with me towards the house.
"'I am not a thief,' I continued, 'for the simple reason that the
temptation you spoke about did not exist. The beauty of the gems
attracted me yesterday, and I looked at them with pleasure, as I like
to look at all lovely things, but I never coveted them; the thought
never even occurred to me to wish to possess them. I am not as other
girls--my life is consecrated--consecrated to the cause of suffering
and pain. I live to help people who are obliged to keep on the shady
side of life. My whole mind and heart are occupied with these people
and their concerns. I do not want money, for my profession supplies me
with plenty, and if I had diamonds ten times as beautiful, when, as a
professional nurse, could I wear them? I have listened to your side
of the affair--I must beg of you to listen to mine. You must see for
yourself that, the temptation not existing, it could not be acted upon.
I believe you mean kindly by all that you have said, and I thank you
for the kindness. Now I will go indoors.'
"I left him--he did not say another word, but I saw by the expression
of his face that I had only puzzled without convincing him.
"I went straight up to my own room, and sitting down, thought over the
queer turn of events. The horror of the thing grew greater and greater
the more I thought it over. I felt torn in two--longing one moment to
rush to Lady Erstfield and tell her everything, and the next being kept
back by the thought that by so doing I might only put a suspicion into
her head which did not exist.
"I was presently sent for to attend to Violet. She had awakened after
a bad dream and was in a very uncomfortable and depressed condition.
Notwithstanding my own great unhappiness, I could see that she had
something on her mind, but although I did all in my power to break the
ice, I could not get her to talk to me in a free and natural manner.
[Illustration: "I FELT TORN IN TWO."]
"That evening the detectives arrived from London, and the next day
several visitors came to the house. Everything went on with outward
smoothness, and the subject of the diamonds was by mutual consent never
alluded to. Lady Violet grew worse, and the gay house party dispersed
sooner than was intended. Captain Ponsonby stayed on, however. I met
him occasionally, but we scarcely exchanged a word. I could see that he
was anxious and haggard, but I set this down to his fears with regard
to Lady Violet, who steadily refused to see him, and never left her
bedroom and boudoir. I spent almost all my time with her, but as the
days wore on I could not but feel the horror of my position more and
more. I saw plainly that the suspicion which Captain Ponsonby harboured
was shared by the two detectives, and also, in process of time, the
poisonous thought was communicated to Lord and Lady Erstfield. Lady
Erstfield's manner to me completely altered. Instead of treating me
with almost the affection of a mother, she was cold and distant; she
avoided meeting my eyes, and never spoke to me on any subject except
what related to Violet's health. That is the position of affairs
to-day, Dr. Halifax. I am suspected of the most horrible theft, and
have not a chance of clearing myself. Lady Violet alone loves me as of
old. She is my dear sister, and for her sake I----"
Here the poor girl completely broke down, and, covering her face with
her hands, sobbed aloud.
"Take courage," I said to her. "I have, at least, one bit of comfort
for you: I also fully believe in you. You no more stole the diamonds
than I did."
"Oh, thank you--that is like you," she said. "God bless you for those
words."
"I am glad I have come here, for every reason," I continued. "My
presence here is necessary not only on account of Lady Violet, but also
on your account. I introduced you to this house, and am responsible for
your conduct; I shall therefore not leave a stone unturned to clear
you, and now you must go back to your work with as brave a heart as you
can."
She rose at once, wiping her eyes and trying to look cheerful.
"One word before you return to Lady Violet," I said. "Is it true that
she has broken off her engagement?"
"Yes."
"Lady Erstfield told me that she gave you her confidence in this
matter."
"Yes, she spoke to me this morning."
"Do you mind telling me what she said?"
"She was very weak and had a difficulty in using her voice, but she
whispered to me. Her words were something like these:--
"'Tell my father and mother that I do not love Captain Ponsonby, and
will never marry him. From the first he never attracted me, and now
there is no inducement--not even the diamonds!'"
"Did she really say 'not even the diamonds'?"
[Illustration: "I BEG OF YOU NOT TO GO."]
"Yes, she certainly did. I thought it strange at the time."
"It was undoubtedly strange. Now go back to your patient and keep up
all the courage you can. I shall remain at Beeches until to-morrow, and
even longer if necessary. I wish to take care of Lady Violet myself
to-night, in order to give you rest."
Miss Temple left the room, and after thinking matters over I went
downstairs. Captain Ponsonby was still in the house. When I abruptly
entered one of the drawing-rooms, I found him talking with Lady
Erstfield.
"Can I speak to you?" I said to the lady.
"Certainly," she replied, starting up. "Is Violet worse? What is the
matter?"
"There is no change in Lady Violet's condition," I replied. "What I
have to speak about refers to Miss Temple."
Captain Ponsonby rose when I said this and prepared to leave the room.
I interrupted this movement.
"I beg of you not to go," I said. "I particularly want you to hear what
I have come to say."
He turned and walked slowly back to one of the windows. I could see
by the expression of his face that he was a good deal annoyed. He was
a handsome, soldierly-looking man, of at least five-and-thirty years
of age, with a somewhat overbearing manner. I could understand a child
like Lady Violet shrinking from him in possible fear, and yet there
was nothing underhand about him. I could see that he was scrupulously
honourable, although his tact would probably not be of the finest.
"I should like you to hear what I have got to say," I continued, "for
you seem to be mixed up in the matter. I refer to the loss of the
diamonds."
"Oh, the diamonds!" exclaimed Lady Erstfield. "Do you suppose we, any
of us, care about them in an hour of terrible sorrow like this?"
"Pardon me," I continued, "there is one person who cares a great deal
about them. A young girl, who came here at my recommendation--I allude
to Miss Temple. It seems that you, sir,"--here I turned to Captain
Ponsonby--"have accused Miss Temple in the most unmistakable manner
of having stolen the diamonds. You accused her of the theft nearly
ten days ago, and since then she has reason to believe that you, Lady
Erstfield, share the suspicion."
Lady Erstfield's face grew pale and troubled.
"Beryl has told you," she exclaimed. "Poor child, I feared that she
would not fail to see the alteration in my manner. Try hard as I would
to hide my feelings, I could not treat her as I did before.
"Well," she continued, "I am sorry, deeply sorry, to say that we all,
with the exception of Violet, suspect her now. She alone had access to
the safe--not a breath of suspicion falls on anyone else. Miss Temple
has managed to hide the diamonds with wonderful skill for the time
being--but in the end she must betray herself. We wish if possible to
avoid having her arrested; she is closely watched, however, for there
can be little doubt of her guilt."
"And believing this," I said, in a stern voice, "you allow this girl to
continue to nurse your daughter?"
"Certainly," replied Lady Erstfield; "in Violet's present condition it
would kill her to part with Miss Temple."
I had some difficulty in controlling my anger.
"I am glad I have come," I said, after a pause, "and that not only on
Lady Violet's account. I cannot leave Beeches until this matter is
satisfactorily cleared up. It is my firm conviction that Miss Temple no
more stole the diamonds than you did, Lady Erstfield."
Lady Erstfield murmured something which I could not quite hear.
"I can say with the utmost truth that we are all only too anxious to
clear Miss Temple from this horrible suspicion if it can be done,"
remarked Captain Ponsonby.
"Oh, certainly--most certainly," added Lady Erstfield. "Anything you
can suggest, Dr. Halifax----"
Her words were interrupted--there came a hurried message from the
sick room. Lady Violet had awakened in a high state of delirium. Lady
Erstfield and I both hurried to her side. I saw that the case was truly
one of life or death, and nothing further was said about the diamonds
for the present.
Towards evening the sick girl seemed to grow a little easier; she sank
into another heavy slumber, and I saw, with satisfaction, that the
remedies I had employed were already getting the pneumonia under. I now
arranged that Miss Temple was to have a night's rest, and that Lady
Erstfield and I should watch by the patient for the night.
Lady Erstfield lay down on a sofa at the far end of the spacious
bedroom, and I sat by Lady Violet. Her sleep was frequently broken by
sharp cries of pain and distress, but I generally managed by a firm
word or touch to control her wild fits of delirium. She did not know
me, however, although she submitted immediately when I spoke to her. I
had many anxious thoughts to occupy me during the night watches. These
were chiefly centred round Beryl Temple. I could not help seeing that
there was abundant ground for the suspicion which attached to her. She
was, I knew well, innocent; but unless the diamonds were discovered,
grave doubts would always arise when her name was mentioned. I did not
think the Erstfields would prosecute her, but I almost wished them to
do so, in order to bring the matter to an issue.
As the night wore on, I fell for a few moments into an uneasy sleep.
In my sleep I dreamt of the diamonds. I saw them sparkling round the
neck of Lady Violet, whose eyes shone with a strange, fierce fire,
which made them look almost as bright as the glittering gems. I awoke
with certain words on my lips. Lady Violet had said to Miss Temple:
"Now there is no inducement to my marriage--not even the diamonds." I
thought the words queer at the time--I pondered over them now.
Rising from my chair, I went over to the bed and looked at the sick
girl. She was breathing more quietly. I laid my hand on her forehead,
and knew at once that her temperature was less high.
I went across the room to Lady Erstfield. She had been asleep, but woke
when I approached her.
"I think my patient is a shade easier," I said. The poor mother uttered
a thankful exclamation.
"I will go and sit by her now for an hour or two," she answered.
"I have had a long sleep and am refreshed. Won't you lie down, Dr.
Halifax?--I will call you if Violet requires anything."
I told her that I would go into the outer room and lie on the sofa. I
was by habit a light sleeper, and the least word from Lady Erstfield
would bring me back to my patient. I lay down, and in a moment was
asleep.
I had not slept long when the sound of conversation in the sick room
aroused me.
I sprang to my feet, and went back there at once. Lady Erstfield did
not hear me. She was standing, facing the bed. Lady Violet was sitting
up and speaking in an eager voice.
"I am better," she said; "mother, I want the diamonds--mother, get them
for me--I want to feel them and to look at them--they will comfort
me--mother, do get them for me at once--the Ponsonby diamonds, you know
what I mean--_do_, mother, dear, fetch me the Ponsonby diamonds."
"You must lie down," I said, going to the other side of the bed; "here,
let me cover you up."
She turned to look at me. I forced her back on her pillow and put the
bedclothes over her.
"Who are you?" she inquired, gazing at me with her bright, too bright,
eyes.
"Your friend and doctor--my name is Halifax."
"Oh, have you come back again, Dr. Halifax? I like you very much. Thank
you for sending me Beryl. I love Beryl. Where is she now?"
"Lying down, tired out; you must not disturb her: your mother and I
will do anything for you that you want. Now you must not talk any more.
Let me give you this drink."
She allowed me to put my hand under her head to raise her, and drank a
little milk and soda-water, with a sigh of relief.
"That is nice," she said; "I am so thirsty."
"Turn on your side now and go to sleep," I said.
"I cannot; I cannot. Are you there, mother? Mother, don't leave me.
Mother, won't you give me the diamonds? I shall sleep sound, very
sound, if I may wear them round my neck! Do, mother, dear, give me the
Ponsonby diamonds--you don't know how I long for them."
"My darling," said Lady Erstfield, falling suddenly on her knees by the
bedside, and bursting into tears, "I would give them to you if I could;
but they are lost, Violet, dear--the Ponsonby diamonds are lost."
[Illustration: "THEY ARE LOST, VIOLET, DEAR."]
"Oh! no, they aren't, mother," replied the girl, in a voice of
astonishment; "they are in my jewel-case--in the lower drawer. The
case which holds the diamonds just fits into the lower drawer of my
jewel-case. You will find my keys on the dressing-table. Do, do fetch
the diamonds, mother."
Lady Erstfield sprang to her feet and looked with a kind of horrified
consternation at her child.
"No, my love," she said then, in a soothing voice, "you are
dreaming--you are not well and have had a bad dream. Go to sleep, my
sweet darling, go to sleep."
"But I am not dreaming," said Lady Violet--"the Ponsonby diamonds are
in my dressing-case. I remember putting them there quite well--I had
forgotten, but I remember now quite well. Dr. Halifax, won't you fetch
them?"
"Certainly," I replied. "Lady Erstfield, will you direct me to Lady
Violet's jewel-case?"
"Yes," replied Lady Erstfield.
The poor woman staggered rather than walked across the room. She
gave me the key of the jewel-case. I opened it and lifted out the
several compartments until I came to the bottom drawer. There lay an
old-fashioned morocco case. I opened it, and the Ponsonby jewels in all
their magnificence lay before me.
"My God, what does this mean?" gasped Lady Erstfield.
"Hush," I said, "don't say anything--take them to her."
"You must do it, I cannot," she moaned.
I took the case up to the bedside. Lady Violet gave a little cry of
rapture when she saw it. In a twinkling, she had lifted the necklace
from its bed of ruby velvet and had clasped it round her white throat.
"Oh, my beautiful, sparkling treasures!" she exclaimed; "how I love
you--how you comfort me!"
She lay down at once and closed her eyes. In a moment she was in sound
and dreamless sleep.
* * * * *
The case was one, without any doubt, of sudden and acute kleptomania.
This strange nervous disorder had in all probability been developed
in Lady Violet by the depression caused by her uncongenial engagement
to Captain Ponsonby. The whole thing was now clear as daylight--poor
Lady Violet was the unconscious thief. She had stolen the diamonds and
then forgotten all about her theft. In her delirium memory returned
to her, and in her desire to possess the gems she recalled where she
had placed them. How she secured the keys of the safe was an unsolved
mystery for some time, but Lady Erstfield, in thinking matters over,
remembered how close Violet had sat by her side on the sofa in one of
the drawing-rooms the evening before the loss was discovered.
"She was often fond of putting her hand into my pocket in play," said
the lady; "it was a trick of hers as a child, and I used to be quite
cross about it, sometimes. She must have transferred the keys from
my pocket to her own on that occasion, gone upstairs and removed the
diamonds from my jewel safe to her own jewel-case, and then once more
slipped the keys back into my pocket."
This explanation seemed sufficiently likely to satisfy people; anyhow,
no other was ever forthcoming. Poor Beryl was, of course, restored to
higher favour than ever: indeed, Lord and Lady Erstfield felt that they
could not possibly make enough of her. The finding of the diamonds was
the turning-point in Lady Violet's illness. She slept for many hours
with the sparkling gems round her neck, and when she awoke it was to
consciousness and recovery.
The diamonds were returned to Captain Ponsonby on the following day,
and the engagement between him and Lady Violet was at an end. There is
only one strange thing to add to this strange story. Lady Violet has
never, from the moment of her awakening to now, alluded to the Ponsonby
diamonds. It is my belief that she has forgotten all about them, and,
as far as I can tell, I do not think she will ever be visited by
another attack of kleptomania.
_Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives._
SIR CHARLES TUPPER.
BORN 1821.
[Illustration: AGE 17.
_From a Painting by Valentine._]
[Illustration: AGE 43.
_From a Photo by Notman, Montreal._]
[Illustration: AGE 50.
_From a Photo by Notman, Montreal._]
[Illustration: PRESENT DAY.
_From a Photo by Notman, Montreal._]
THE HON. SIR CHARLES TUPPER, BART., G.C.M.G., K.C.M.G., C.B., M.D.,
L.R.C.S., LL.D., was a member of the Executive Council and Provincial
Secretary of Nova Scotia from 1857 to 1860 and from 1863 to 1867, and
Prime Minister of that province until he retired from office, with his
Government, on the Union Act coming into force, on the 1st of July,
1867. He holds patent of rank and precedence from Her Majesty as an
Executive Councillor of Nova Scotia; was sworn as a Privy Councillor of
Canada, June, 1870; and was President of that body from that date until
the 1st July, 1872. Sir Charles represented the county of Cumberland,
Nova Scotia, in Parliament for thirty-two years. He was created a
baronet in 1888.
DR. G. W. LEITNER.
[Illustration: AGE 15.
_From a Photograph._
(Chief Interpreter during the Russian War.)]
[Illustration: AGE 21.
_From a Photograph._
(Professor at King's College, London.)]
[Illustration: AGE 26.
_From a Photograph._
(As a Maulvi when exploring Dardistan.)]
[Illustration: PRESENT DAY.
_From a Photo by W. & D. Downey._]