CHAPTER XXVII

A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

If Jimmy had entertained any doubts concerning the effectiveness of this disclosure, they would have vanished at the sight of the other's face. Just as the rich hues of a sunset pale slowly into an almost imperceptible green, so did the purple of Sir Thomas's cheeks become, in stages, first a dull red, then pink, and finally take on a uniform pallor. His mouth hung open. His attitude of righteous defiance had crumpled. Unsuspected creases appeared in his clothes. He had the appearance of one who has been caught in the machinery.

Jimmy was a little puzzled. He had expected to check the enemy, to bring him to reason, but not to demolish him in this way. There was something in this which he did not understand. When Spike had handed him the stones, and his trained eye, after a moment's searching examination, had made him suspicious, and when, finally, a simple test had proved his suspicions correct, he was comfortably aware that, though found with the necklace on his person, he had knowledge, which, communicated to Sir Thomas, would serve him well. He knew that Lady Julia was not the sort of lady who would bear calmly the announcement that her treasured rope of diamonds was a fraud. He knew enough of her to know that she would demand another necklace, and see that she got it; and that Sir Thomas was not one of those generous and expansive natures which think nothing of an expenditure of twenty thousand pounds.

Answer this series of questions:

1. Who was confused?
2. What was a fraud?
3. Whose was it?
4. Who was righteous at first?
5. Did somebody perform a test?
6. What did Jimmy think Lady Julia would insist on?
7. Did Sir Thomas seem generous?
8. What did Jimmy expect to do to the enemy?
9. But what did he end up doing?
10. Who handed him the diamonds?
11. How did he feel after looking at them?
12. Did he turn out to be right?
13. What would Lady Julia make sure of?
14. In whose clothes did creases show up?
15. And how did he appear?
16. Did the necklace have rubies on it?
17. Who had a trained eye?
18. What color did Sir Thomas' cheeks turn at first?
19. What color next?
20. And then what finally?
1. Jimmy
2. diamonds necklace
3. Lady Julia
4. sir thomas
5. yes
6. another necklace
7. no
8. check him
9. demolish him
10. Spike
11. suspicious
12. yes
13. got necklace
14. sir thomas
15. like one who has been caught in the machinery.
16. no
17. Jimmy
18. red
19. pink
20. uniform pallor