At seven o'clock the next morning my patient was resting so quietly that I considered it safe to leave her for a short time. So I informed Miss Althorpe that I was obliged to go down-town on an important errand, and requested Crescenze to watch over the sick girl in my absence. As she agreed to this, I left the house as soon as breakfast was over and went immediately in search of Mr. Gryce. I wished to make sure that he knew nothing about the rings.  
It was eleven o'clock before I succeeded in finding him. As I was certain that a direct question would bring no answer, I dissembled my real intention as much as my principles would allow, and accosted¹ him with the eager look of one who has great news to impart.
 
"O, Mr. Gryce!" I impetuously cried, just as if I were really the weak woman he thought me, "I have found something; something in connection with the Van Burnam murder. You know I promised to busy myself about it if you arrested Howard Van Burnam."
 
His smile was tantalizing² in the extreme. "Found something?" he repeated. "And may I ask if you have been so good as to bring it with you?"
 
He was playing with me, this aged³ and reputable detective. I subdued⁴ my anger, subdued my indignation[Pg 261] even, and smiling much in his own way, answered briefly⁵:
 
"I never carry valuables on my person. A half-dozen expensive rings stand for too much money for me to run any undue⁶ risk with them."
 
He was caressing⁷ his watch-chain as I spoke⁸, and I noticed that he paused in this action for just an infinitesimal length of time as I said the word rings. Then he went on as before, but I knew I had caught his attention.
 
"Of what rings do you speak, madam? Of those missing from Mrs. Van Burnam's hands?"
 
I took a leaf from his book, and allowed myself to indulge in a little banter⁹.
 
"O, no," I remonstrated¹⁰, "not those rings, of course. The Queen of Siam's rings, any rings but those in which we are specially¹¹ interested."
 
This meeting him on his own ground evidently puzzled him.
 
"You are facetious¹², madam. What am I to gather from such levity¹³? That success has crowned your efforts, and that you have found a guiltier party than the one now in custody¹⁵?"
 
"Possibly," I returned, limiting my advance by his. "But it would be going too fast to mention that yet. What I want to know is whether you have found the rings belonging to Mrs. Van Burnam?"
 
My triumphant¹⁶ tone, the almost mocking accent I purposely gave to the word you, accomplished¹⁷ its purpose. He never dreamed I was playing with him; he thought I was bursting with pride; and casting me a sharp glance (the first, by the way, I had received from him), he inquired with perceptible interest:[Pg 262]
 
"Have you?"
 
Instantly convinced that the whereabouts of these jewels was as little known to him as to me, I rose and prepared to leave. But seeing that he was not satisfied, and that he expected an answer, I assumed a mysterious air and quietly remarked:
 
"If you will come to my house to-morrow I will explain myself. I am not prepared to more than intimate my discoveries to-day."
 
But he was not the man to let one off so easily.
 
"Excuse me," said he, "but matters of this kind do not admit of delay. The grand jury sits within the week, and any evidence worth presenting them must be collected at once. I must ask you to be frank with me, Miss Butterworth."
 
"And I will be, to-morrow."
 
"To-day," he insisted, "to-day."
 
Seeing that I should gain nothing by my present course, I reseated myself, bestowing¹⁸ upon him a decidedly ambiguous smile as I did so.
 
"You acknowledge then," said I, "that the old maid can tell you something after all. I thought you regarded all my efforts in the light of a jest. What has made you change your mind?"
 
"Madam, I decline to bandy words. Have you found those rings, or have you not?"
 
"I have not," said I, "but neither have you, and as that is what I wanted to make sure of, I will now take my leave without further ceremony............