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"Oh that one," said Raffles Holmes, with a laugh. "I was that Robinstein." "You?" I cried. "Yes, me," said Holmes. "You don't suppose I'd let a third party into our secret, do you?" And then he gave me one of those sweet, wistful smiles that made the wonder of the man all the greater.
I added, as I glanced over the café, "that's a singular coincidence there is Markoo himself just coming in the doorway." "Really?" said Mr. Robinstein, turning and gazing towards the door. "He's a different-looking chap from what I had imagined. Perhaps, Mr. Jenkins, it would er expedite matters if you " "Of course," I interrupted. "Tommy is alone we'll have him over."
And I beckoned to Markoo and invited him to join us. "Good!" said he, in his whole-souled way. "Glad to have a chance to see you I'm so confoundedly busy these days just think of it, I've been at the shop ever since eight o'clock this morning." "Tommy, I want to introduce you to my friend Mr. Robinstein," said I. "Not Isidore Robinstein, of Paris?" said Markoo. "I have that misfortune, Mr.
"If you don't mind, I should like to sit here for a few moments," he observed, pulling out the chair opposite me. "I have your permission?" "Certainly, Mr. er " "Robinstein is my name," said he, sitting down, and producing a letter from his pocket. "I have here a not from my old friend Raffles Holmes a note of introduction to you. I am a manufacturer of paste jewels or rather was.
And to-night all I had to do to get them was to keep them and hand in the Robinstein substitutes when the hour of closing came." "So that now, in place of four $50,000 diamonds, Gaffany & Co. are in possession of " "Two paste pendants, worth about $40 apiece," said Holmes. "If I fail to find the originals I shall have to use the paste ones to carry the scheme through, but I hate to do it.
Each day the remaining two pendant-stones these have been handed to me to work on, merely to carry out the illusion. The first day, in odd moments, I made sketches of them, and on the night of the second I had 'em down in such detail as to cut and color, that Robinstein had no difficulty in reproducing them in the materials at his disposal in Markoo's shop.
Markoo," said Robinstein. "Misfortune? Gad, Mr. Robinstein, we look at things through different glasses," returned Markoo. "The man who can do your work ought never to suffer misfortune " "If he only stays out of the stock-market," said Robinstein. "Aha," laughed Tommy. "Et tu, Brute?" We all laughed, and if there was any ice to be broken after that it was along the line of business of the café.
"They'd have a fit if they knew I had 'em, only they don't know it." "But how have you concealed the fact from them?" I persisted. "Robinstein made me a pair exactly like them," said Holmes. "The paste ones are now lying in the Gaffany safe, where I saw them placed before leaving the shop to-night." "You're too deep for me, Holmes," said I. "What's the game?"
The four were mounted immediately and sent under guard to the purchaser. Gaffany & Co. didn't want to keep them a minute longer than was necessary. But the purchaser is so rich he will never have to sell 'em so, you see, Jenkins, we're as safe as a church." "Your friend Robinstein was a character, Holmes," said I. "Yes," sighed Holmes. "Poor chap he was a great loss to his friends.
He taught me the art of making paste gems when I was in Paris. I miss him like the dickens." "Miss him!" said I, getting anxious for Robinstein. "What happened? He isn't " "Dead," said Holmes. "Two years ago dear old chap." "Oh, come now, Holmes," I said. "What new game is this you are rigging on me? I met him only five nights ago and you know it."
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