ur cloaks, which, as
I have seen, you throw down here and there and leave behind you? Oh,
fools, fools, even among women incomparable fools! Fellow-travellers
with Dr. Legh also, who would rob a baby of its bauble."

"Fools or no," exclaimed Emlyn tartly, "we have got them safe enough
after they have run some risks, as I pray that you may keep them, Cousin
Smith."

Old Jacob threw a cloth over the gems, and slowly transferred them to
his pocket.

"This is an upper floor," he explained, "and the door is locked, yet
some one might put a ladder up to the window. Were I in the street I
should know by the glitter in the light that there were precious things
here. Stay, they are not safe in my pocket even for an hour," and going
to the wall he did something to a panel in the wainscot causing it to
open and reveal a space behind it where lay sundry wrapped-up parcels,
among which he placed, not all, but a portion of the gems. Then he went
to other panels that opened likewise, showing more parcels, and in the
holes behind these he distributed the rest of the treasure.

"There, foolish women," he said, "since you have trusted me, I will
trust you. You have seen my big strong-boxes in my office, and doubtless
thought I keep all my little wares there. Well, so does every thief
in London, for they have searched them twice and gained some store of
pewter; I remember that some of it was discovered again in the King's
household. But behind these panels all is safe, though no woman would
ever have thought of a device so simple and so sure."

For a moment Emlyn could find no answer, perhaps because of her
indignation, but Cicely asked sweetly--

"Do you ever have fires in London, Master Smith? It seems to me that I
have heard of such things, and then--in a hurry, you know----"

Smith thrust up his horned spectacles and looked at her in mild
astonishment.

"To think," he said, "that I should live to learn wisdom out of the
mouth of babes and sucklers----"

"Sucklings," suggested Cicely.

"Sucklers or sucklings, it means the same thing--women," he replied
testily; then added, with a chuckle, "Well, well, my Lady, you are
right. You have caught out Jacob at his own game. I never thought of
fire, though it is true we had one next door last year, when I ran out
with my bed and forgot all about the gold and stones. I'll have new
hiding-places made in the masonry of the cellar, where no fire would
hurt. Ah! you women would never h