"But it's inconceivable, incredible! It certainly wasn't there just now when Lady Cantyre went out."

"That I can't say, miss; I didn't see her ladyship."

"But if it had been there she would have seen it." The girl moved a step closer. "Who are you?"

The maid seemed as if she did not know what to make of Miss Forster's manner, which was peculiar; so peculiar that it might almost have been described as threatening.

"Me, miss? I'm Simmons."

Miss Forster was silent, not, it would seem, because she had nothing to say, but because she had so much that she didn't know how to say it. All at once she moved towards the door of the room.

"Come here; now show me, please, exactly where you found this locket, the very spot."

Opening the door, she allowed the maid to precede her into the passage. As if, as was only natural, disconcerted by the young lady's manner, the maid did what was required. She pointed to the floor."I can't, of course, miss, say which was the exact spot--nobody could; but I should say, as near as possible, it was just there." 

"Then Lady Cantyre must have seen it as she went out; if she had she would have brought it to me; she would have done something." 

"As to that, miss, I cannot speak." 

"You say that your name is Simmons?" 

"Yes, miss, Jane Simmons." 

"Have you been here long?" 

"No, miss; I'm one of the new servants who came in just before Easter when the family returned from town." 

"What made you think that the locket had anything to do with me?" 

"I didn't, miss. I didn't think anything at all about it; there was the locket and there was your door. I thought that someone who was the other side of the door might have something to do with the locket. I didn't know that you were in your room, miss; I thought that you might have dropped it going out." 

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