"Indeed! and where, pray, did you make the acquaintance of the high-toned
Mr. Rider?" sarcastically inquired Mrs. Montague.
"In St. Louis."
"In St. Louis!" the woman repeated, astonished.
"Yes. You doubtless remember the day that I rode with you and your nephew
in the street-car, when you were both disguised."
"Yes, but did you know us at that time?"
"No, I only recognized the dress you had on."
"Ah! What a fool I was ever to wear it the second time," sighed the
wretched woman, regretfully.
"I knew it was very like in both color and texture the piece of goods
that Mr. Palmer had once shown me. I was almost sure when I saw that it
had been mended that it was the same dress that Mrs. Vanderbeck had worn
when she stole the Palmer diamonds, and immediately telegraphed to have
the fragment sent to me."
"And Ray Palmer had it and had kept it all that time!" interposed Mrs.
Montague, with a frown. "I hunted everywhere for it."
"He sent it to me by the next mail, and I began my hunt for the dress,
although at that time I did not suspect that it belonged to you," Mona
continued. Then she explained how, while assisting the chambermaid
about her work, she had found the garment hanging in a wardrobe, and
proved by fitting the fragment to the rent that her suspicions were
correct.
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