The lady smiled and
continued:
"Lady Holberton thinks the Lumley Autograph was stolen--I
understand she even thought it was stolen by myself--"
She here turned deliberately toward our hostess, who looked uneasy.
"If such were your suspicions, Lady Holberton," continued Miss
Rowley, speaking with great deliberation--"I am happy to say they
were quite correct--you only did me justice--I am proud to declare
the deed was mine--"
We were all speechless at hearing this sudden and bold avowal.
"It was I, Theodosia Rowley, who carried off--the word is of little
consequence--who stole, I repeat, that precious paper. So long as
the treasure was mine, the consciousness of possessing it was
sufficient in itself--but having afterward lost it from my pocket by
unpardonable carelessness, I shall at least now glory in the daring
deed which made it once my own."
Conceive the amazement which these remarks--delivered with calm
enthusiasm--produced among the listening circle. We all know that
high crimes and misdemeanors enough are committed by men, and
women too; but somehow or other the delinquents are not often
given to talking of them; they would just as lief in general that the
act should not be known. The effect of Miss Rowley's words was
different on different individuals. As for myself, I involuntarily felt for
the handkerchief in my pocket.
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