CHAPTER 25Miss Silver detained him with the slightest of gestures.
“If you can spare me a few moments—”
“Of course. What is it?”
“There are some enquiries which it would not be possible for me to attend to, but which I must be very glad if you could make.”
He was able to recognize this mild and tentative approach and allow himself some irreverent amusement. There were chestnuts to be picked out of the fire, and he was for it. Recalling some other occasions, the amusement subsided and an alert attention took its place.
“Well, ma’am, what are they?”
“You will, perhaps, remember that I mentioned a Mrs. Maberly to you.”
“Did you? I believe you did—Henry Cunningham and the fatal diamond ring. She left it about, it vanished, and everyone made up their minds that Henry had taken it. After
