Explore "The White Glove" by Fred M. White on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Neither of the men seemed inclined to doubt the accuracy of Madeline's statement; nor did they seem to notice how the red and white alternated in her face. As a matter of fact, she was trembling from head to foot with the sense of shame--the fear of discovery. No doubt these men were policemen of some kind; there had been a quarrel between these two over ill-gotten spoil, and the authorities were keen upon the scent of the booty. And all the while Madeline had it in her pocket; all the while she was fully resolved not to give it up, and to save Clifford at any cost.
Come what may, Clifford should not suffer. Not for a moment did Madeline disguise from herself that she was acting disgracefully. But the bulk of the ill-gotten diamonds need not be touched; they would be kept till the proper time, and then restored to their owner. One small stone could not matter; Clifford would be free to win his way to fortune, and who would miss one stone among so many? Thus Madeline reasoned against her uneasy conscience. If Clifford was very lucky; she could even make confession and restitution.