Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/191

 to be wrong,—that Mrs. Dalrymple did not send the locket. If any one else did, what reason could he have for making such a mystery of it? It would be absurd."

"I follow all that," said Valeska; "but I can't think why Mrs. Dalrymple would have any motive for inducing Miss Dalrymple to dig in the garden."

"I think you forget the second Mrs. Dalrymple's character. But you can study it out. What I intend to do is to call on Mrs. Dalrymple this evening and find out. I have a very good case against her, I think, and I intend to make her give up that letter, if she has it. Of course it may have been destroyed, but I don't quite believe it. It is common for criminals, especially women, to refrain from actually destroying the very evidence that may convict them. From some scruple or fear they seldom do it. At any rate, I shall frighten her with what I suspect of her actions in the past, and use my positive knowledge of Fanny's services."

"But what is hidden in the garden? Anything? And if so, how did it get there?"

"Was there no one besides Miss Dalrymple and Fanny living in the house? No other servants?"

Valeska shook her head, then reflected for an instant. "I did hear something about a gardener—" She stopped and stared at him.

He nodded. "I think that probably completes the last link of the chain. At any rate, I'm willing to risk it. Well, I'll go right over to Brooklyn and have it out. Meet me at the Grand Central Station to-night in time for the eleven-thirty-six train for Yonkers, and we'll see the whole thing through this very night."