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“I don’t knohy you don’t believeat Enid with hurt eyes “I saw it myself In the baseht, but I had the Pauline Trigère fashion show in the afternoon And Louise did go to the Met that day”

“Flossie dear,” Enid said firht just as easily have taken the cross yourself If it exists at all”

“But I didn’t take it,” Flossie said stubbornly “Louise did”

Enid sighed Flossie had been beating this rumor drum for fifty years It was her stubborn insistence that Louise had stolen this cross that had caused Flossie’s eventual ree led by Louise Houghton, who had subtly suggested that Flossie suffered froenerally believed to be true, Louise had prevailed, and Flossie had never forgiven Louise not only her supposed crime but also her betrayal, which had led to Flossie’s perrace in New York society

Flossie could have worked her way back in, but she refused to let go of her crazy idea that Louise Houghton, a woman above reproach, had stolen the Cross of Bloody Mary and kept it hidden somewhere in her apartment Even now Flossie pointed out theand, with a wheeze, said, “I’ht now It’s just sitting there, waiting to be discovered”

“Why would Louise Houghton take it?” Enid asked patiently

“Because she was a Catholic And Catholics are like that,” Flossie said

“You ive this up,” Enid said “It’s time Louise is dead You must face the facts”

“Why?”

“Think about your legacy,” Enid said “Do you want to go to your grave with everyone thinking you were the crazy old wohton?”

“I don’t care what people think,” Flossie said proudly “I never have And I’ll never understand how hter continued to be friends with Louise”

“Ah, Flossie” Enid shook her head “If everyone in New York took sides over these petty, insignificant arguments, no one would have any friends at all”

“I read so funny today,” theIt All’”

“Not having it all?” Schiffer asked “I’ it”

“A friend e-mailed it to m