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I marveled at my companion's ingenuity, whereupon he laughed airily, replying: "When 'The Golden Face' arranges a coup it never fails to come off I assure you. The police have to be up very early to get the better of him. His one injunction to all of us is that we shall be ready at all times to show clean hands as we have to-day! But let's get away, Hargreave back to London, I think, don't you?"
George Hargreave?" he inquired in a pleasant voice. "Yes. Mr. Rudolph Rayne, I presume?" He bowed, and pointed to a chair close to his own. Then he sat down again, and I followed his example.
One spring afternoon we had been playing tennis and were sitting together in the pretty arbor at the end of the well-kept lawn, both smoking cigarettes after a strenuous game, when suddenly she turned to me, saying: "Do you know, Mr. Hargreave, I don't like the look of things at all! Mr. Duperré is not playing a straight game of that I'm sure!" "Oh why?" I asked with affected ignorance.
"She was most charming to me this morning." "And she is also charming to me. But she seems so horribly inquisitive, and asks me so many questions about my father questions I can't answer." "Why not?" I asked, turning to her and for a second taking my eyes off the road. "Well you know, Mr. Hargreave you surely know," the girl hesitated. "Why are we on this visit?
But I find that Steffensen is away in America at the moment, so I've approached the Dutchman. Heydenryck is a sly old dog. Unlike Steffensen, he buys unset stones because they are difficult to identify." I bent and examined the glittering little pile of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires which had been stolen from the hotel in London. "Look here, Hargreave," said Duperré.
Besides, if you trust me, as you have done hitherto, you will find the whole affair works quite easily and without the least risk to yourselves." Next second he realized that I had entered, and turning to me, said quite quietly: "I'm engaged just now, Hargreave." So I was forced to withdraw, full of wonder as to the nature of the latest conspiracy.
He has his own views, and I am, after all, his secretary and servant." "I I often wish you were not," the girl blurted forth. "Why?" I asked in surprise. "Oh! I don't really know. Sometimes I feel so horribly apprehensive. Madame is always so discreet and so mysterious. She will never tell me anything; and you you, Mr. Hargreave, you are the same," she declared petulantly.
I waited in the big, dark room for nearly twenty minutes, when suddenly I heard heavy, stumbling footsteps returning, and became conscious that the men, aided by the woman, were carrying with them a heavy human form. It was enveloped in black cloth and trussed up firmly with stout rope. "Say, are you all right, Mr. Hargreave?" inquired the American girl-crook.
I'd do better, however, if well, if I were not associated with Duperré and the rest," I added bitterly. The pretty girl was silent for a few moments. Then she said: "Of course you won't breathe a word of what I've said, will you?" "Certainly not, Lola," was my reply. "Whatever you tell me never passes my lips." "I know I know I can trust you, Mr. Hargreave," she exclaimed.
Well, Hargreave, it's a very funny story and concerns a real good fellow and, incidentally, a very pretty girl. Take a cigar, sit down, and I'll tell you frankly all about it only, of course, not a word of the facts will ever pass your lips not to Lola, or to anybody else. Your lips are sealed." "I promise," I said, selecting one of his choice cigars and lighting it, my curiosity aroused.
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