human
Nearly a hundred thousand pounds' worth of jewels is here, in this room, at this moment, my sister-in-law went on impressively,
gpt
She is one of the right Annesleys, I managed to break in.
human
But, as I wrote you and Haslemere, she has always been known as Madeleine Odell. You and he----
gpt
Oh, never mind that! Haslemere cut me short.
human
You have married her without consulting us. If you'd asked my advice, I should certainly--but we won't stir up the past! Let sleeping dogs lie, and bygones be bygones, and so on.
gpt
Yes, we'll try and do our best for your wife, Violet added hastily, with an absent-minded eye.
human
When the sale is over, and we have time to breathe, you must bring her here, and----
gpt
You both seem to misunderstand the situation, although I thought I'd made things clear in my letter, I said.
human
You cruelly misjudged Maida. You believed lies about her, and put a public shame upon the innocent child. Do you think I'd ever bring her into my brother's house until he and his wife had begged her forgiveness, and atoned as far as in their power?
gpt
Good heavens, Jack, you must be mad! Haslemere exclaimed.
human
I'd forgotten the affair until you revived it in my mind by announcing that you intended to marry a girl whose presentation I'd caused to be cancelled. Then I remembered. I acted at the time only as it was my duty to act, according to information received. An American acquaintance of Violet's--a widow of good birth whose word could not be doubted, told us a tragic story in which Miss Odell had played--well, to put it mildly, in consideration for you--had played an unfortunate part.
gpt
The name of this American widow was Granville, I cut in,
human
It was. I see you know.
gpt
I know the true version of the story. And I expect you and Violet to listen to it.
human
We can't listen to anything further now, dear boy. We've more important--I beg your pardon--we've more _pressing_ things to attend to, said Violet.
gpt
You've a right to your point of view, and we don't want to hurt your feelings. But I don't think you ought to want _us_ to go against our convictions, unless to be civil, for your sake, and avoid scandal. We'll do our best, I told you; you must be satisfied with that. And really, we _can't_ talk about this any longer, because just before you came we'd a telegram from Drivenny to say he and Combes and Blackburn will be here an hour earlier than the appointment. That will land them on us at any instant; and I don't care to be agitated, please!
human
Drivenny is the great jewel expert, Haslemere condescended to enlighten my amateurish intelligence.
gpt
Combes is the Scotland Yard man, as you know: and Blackburn is the famous detective from New York who's in London now. We don't understand why they come before their time, but no doubt they've an excellent reason and we shall hear it soon. You shall see them, if you like. You're interested in detectives.
human
It sounds like a plot, I remarked, so angry with my brother and his wife that I found a mean pleasure in trying to upset them.
gpt
You'd better make jolly well sure that the right men come. As you are responsible for the jewels----
human
You talk as if you were a detective in a boy's story paper! Not likely I should be such a fool as to hand the boodle over to men I didn't know by sight! They have been here before, in a bunch, Drivenny judging the jewels, the detectives----
gpt
My lord, the three gentlemen from London have arrived in a motor-car, announced a footman.
human
They wished to send their cards to your lordship.
gpt
Show them in at once, said Haslemere. He stood in front of a bookcase containing the works of George Eliot, Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott. I knew that bookcase well, and the secret which it so respectably hid. Behind, was the safe in which our family had for several generations placed such valuables as happened to be in the house. Haslemere slid back with a touch a little bronze ornament decorating a hinge on the glass door. In a tiny recess underneath was the head of a spring, which he pressed. The whole bookcase slipped along the wall and revealed the safe. Haslemere opened this, and took out a despatch box. While Violet received the box from his hands and laid it on a table near by, my brother closed the safe, and replaced the bookcase. A moment later, the three important visitors were ushered into the room, their names pronounced with respect by the servant:
human
Mr. Drivenny: Mr. Blackburn: Mr. Combes.
gpt
This is my brother, back from a military mission to America,