Читать книгу The Great Diamond Syndicate; Or, The Hardest Crew on Record онлайн

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“Never mind that now,” said Nick. “Did you see much of Anton last night?”

“Yes, he was with me until I retired.”

“And Bernice?”

“She was with my aunt in the sitting room the greater part of the evening.”

“You do not know whether she retired early?”

“Of course not. She usually does go to bed as soon as my aunt releases her from duty for the night, and aunt went to her room early last evening, before I did, in fact. Anton was the only one in the parlor when I left.”

“Where was Bernice?” asked Nick.

“She was somewhere about the house. I remember now that aunt did not require her services in her chamber.”

“She might have been in bed?”

“No, she was not, for I heard her voice downstairs, just before I left for my room. She was somewhere at the back of the house.”

“What time did Mr. Maynard go to his room?” asked Nick.

“He was there most of the evening. He had what the boys call a grouch about something, I guess.”

“Where were the diamonds during the evening?”

“In my trunk.”

Nick pondered a moment, and turned away, going to the door, from which he turned back to ask: