第32部分(第2/8 頁)

ht　he　kept　all　King　Solomon's　diamonds　there。　They　made　a　clean　sweep；　got　the　tankards；　the　silver　cups；　and　the　presentation　gold　plate　that　my　father　had　had　presented　to　him；　and　the　jewel…case。〃

She　sighed　reminiscently。　〃My　father　was　in　a　great　state　over　my　mother's　jewels。　There　was　the　Veian　set　and　some　very　fine　cameos；　and　some　pale　pink　corals；　and　two　diamond　rings　with　quite　large　stones　in　them。　And　then；　of　course；　she　had　to　tell　him　that；　being　a　sensible　woman；　she　had　kept　her　jewellery　rolled　up　in　a　pair　of　corsets；　and　there　it　was　still　as　safe　as　anything。〃

〃And　the　jepty？〃

〃Oh　no；　dear；〃　said　Miss　Viner；　〃it　would　have　been　too　light　a　weight　then。　My　mother　was　a　very　intelligent　woman；　she　saw　to　that。　She　kept　her　buttons　in　the　jewel…case；　and　a　very　handy　place　it　was。　Boot　buttons　in　the　top　tray；　trouser　buttons　in　the　second　tray；　and　assorted　buttons　below。　Curiously　enough；　my　father　was　quite　annoyed　with　her。　He　said　he　didn't　like　deceit。　But　I　mustn't　go　chattering　on；　you　want　to　go　and　ring　up　your　friend；　and　mind　you　choose　a　nice　piece　of　steak；　and　tell　Ellen　she　is　not　to　have　holes　in　her　stockings　when　she　waits　at　lunch。〃

〃Is　her　name　Ellen　or　Helen；　Miss　Viner？　I　thought　…〃

Miss　Viner　closed　her　eyes。

〃I　can　sound　my　h's；　dear；　as　well　as　anyone；　but　Helen　is　not　a　suitable　name　for　a　servant。　I　don't　know　what　the　mothers　in　the　lower　classes　are　ing　to　nowadays。〃

The　rain　h