Such a mass of jewelry
looked rather out of place in the daylight, but the twilight
of the room made the glitter less pronounced. Jennings
thought that Mrs. Herne must have Jewish blood in her veins,
seeing she was so fond of gems. Certainly she was very like
Maraquito, even to having eyebrows almost meeting over her
thin high nose. But these, as was her hair, were gray, and
her skin lacked the rich coloring of the younger woman.
Jennings rapidly took in the resemblance, and commenced the
conversation, more convinced than ever that there was some
bond of blood between Mrs. Herne and Senora Gredos. This
belief helped him not a little.
"I daresay Mr. Clancy told you why I wished to see you?"
Mrs. Herne nodded in a stately way. "Yes. You wish to know
if I was in the bedroom of my friend on that evening. Well, I
was. I went in for a few minutes to take off my cloak and
hat, and then I went in again to resume them."
"Did you see anyone in the room?"
"No. Had there been anyone I should certainly have seen the
person. But there is no place where anyone could hide."
"Not even a cupboard?"
"There was a wardrobe, for Miss Loach disliked cupboards, as
she thought clothes did not get sufficiently aired in them. A
wardrobe, and of course anyone might have hid under the bed,
but I did not look. And I don't think," added Mrs. Herne,
examining her rings, "that anyone was about. Miss Loach was
always very suspicious, and searched the house regularly.
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