第32部分(第1/7 页)

a　good　deal　of　father's　wine　left；　a　bottle　of　sparkling　Moselle；　perhaps。〃

〃Oh　no；　Miss　Viner；　that　is　really　not　necessary。〃

〃Nonsense；　my　child。　No　gentleman　is　happy　unless　he　drinks　something　with　his　meal。　There　is　some　good　pre…war　whisky　if　you　think　he　would　prefer　that。　Now　do　as　I　say　and　don't　argue。　The　key　of　the　wine…cellar　is　in　the　third　drawer　down　in　the　dressing…table；　in　the　second　pair　of　stockings　on　the　left…hand　side。〃

Katherine　went　obediently　to　the　spot　indicated。

〃The　second　pair；　now　mind；〃　said　Miss　Viner。　〃The　first　pair　has　my　diamond　earrings　and　my　filigree　brooch　in　it。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Katherine；　rather　taken　aback；　〃wouldn't　you　like　them　put　in　your　jewel…case？〃

Miss　Viner　gave　vent　to　a　terrific　and　prolonged　snort。

〃No；　indeed！　I　have　much　too　much　sense　for　that　sort　of　thing；　thank　you。　Dear；　dear；　I　well　remember　how　my　poor　father　had　a　safe　built　in　downstairs。　Pleased　as　Punch　he　was　with　it；　and　he　said　to　my　mother；　'Now；　Mary；　you　bring　me　your　jewels　in　their　case　every　night　and　I　will　lock　them　away　for　you。'　My　mother　was　a　very　tactful　woman；　and　she　knew　that　gentlemen　like　having　their　own　way；　and　she　brought　him　the　jewel…case　locked　up　just　as　he　said。

〃And　one　night　burglars　broke　in；　and　of　course　…　naturally　…　the　first　thing　they　went　for　was　the　safe！　It　would　be；　with　my　father　talking　up　and　down　the　village　and　bragging　about　it　until　you　might　have　thought　he　kept　all　King　Solomon's　diamonds　there。　They　made　a　clean　sweep；　got　the　tankards；　the　silver　cups；　and　the　presentation　gold　plate　that　my　father　had　had　presented　to　him；　and　the　jewel…case。〃

She　sighed　reminiscently。　〃My　father　was　in　a　great　state　over　my　mother's　jewels。　There　was