She has lost them, and Tom--'
But here she was interrupted by Tom himself, who, always afraid of his
uncle, and now more afraid than ever because of the fiery gleam in his
eyes, stammered out that he had not accused Harold, nor any one; that he
only knew the diamonds were gone and could not have gone without help.
'Do you mean those stones your mother flashed in my eyes that night?
Serves her right if she has lost them,' Arthur said, without manifesting
the slightest interest or concern in the matter.
But when Jerry began her story, which she told rapidly in German, he
became excited at once, and his manner was that of a maniac, as he
turned fiercely upon Tom, denouncing him as a coward and a liar, and
threatening to turn him out of the house if he dared harbor such a
suspicion against Harold Hastings.
'I'll turn you all into the street,' he continued, 'if you are not
careful, and bring Harold and Jerry here to live; then see if I can have
peace. Diamonds, indeed! what has a poor man's wife to do with
diamonds? Gretchen's diamonds, too! If they are lost, search the house,
but never accuse Harold again.'
At this paint Arthur wandered off into German, which no one could
understand except Jerry, who stood, holding fast to his arm, her face
flushed and triumphant at Harold's victory and Tom's defeat; but as the
tirade in German went on, she started suddenly forward, and with clasped
hands and staring eyes stood confronting Arthur until he had ceased
speaking, and with a wave of his hand signified that he was through and
his audience dismissed.
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