But no one had seen them since they were in the lady's ears, and she knew she had left them upon her bureau when she went down to breakfast.

She was positive of that.

No one had been in the room, or that part of the house, except Tom, Fred Raymond, Charles and Sarah.

Of these the first two were not to be thought of for a moment, while the last two had been in the family for years, and were above suspicion.

Clearly, then, it was some one from outside, who had watched his or her portunity and come in.
Had any one been seen about the house at that hour?
Yes, Charles remembered having met Harold Hastings coming out of the rear door; 'but,' he added, 'I would sooner suspect myself than him.' And this was the verdict of all except Mrs.Tracy, who now recalled the fact that she, too, had seen Harold 'sneaking through the door as if he did not wish to be seen.' That was the way she expressed herself, and her manner had in it more meaning even than her words.
'What was Harold doing in the house?
What was his errand?
Does any one know ?' she asked, but no one volunteered any information until Charles suggested that he probably came on some errand to Mr.Arthur; he would inquire, he said, and he went at once to his master's room.
Arthur was sitting by his writing-desk, busy with a letter, and did not turn, his head when Charles asked if he remembered whether Harold Hastings had been to his room the morning after the party.
'No, I have not seen him for more than a week,' was the reply.
'But he must have been here that morning,' Charles continued.