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Updated: May 31, 2025
"The telephone, my dear Bellward," Mortimer spoke in a pompous voice "the telephone is the symbol of the age in which we live, the age of publicity but also of indiscretion. It is almost as indiscreet to have a telephone in your house as to keep a diary.
"No," answered the man reflectively, "but I think he will!" Mrs. Malplaquet laughed shrilly. "And how, may I ask? From what Strangwise told me himself, the thing has utterly vanished. And he doesn't seem to have any clue as to who has taken it!" "Perhaps not," replied Bellward, who appeared to have a high opinion of Strangwise, "but, like all Germans, our friend is thorough.
"Ah, indeed!" returned Bellward pensively. "But a night like this makes me feel twenty years older, Minna. He's a daredevil, this Strangwise. Imagine going back to that infernal inn when the police might have broken in on us any minute. But he is a determined chap. He doesn't seem to know what it is to be beaten.
The rapid transition from the hush of the room to the scene of confusion going on around him had left him bewildered. His glance traveled from the faces of the men gathered round his chair to the floor. The sight of Bellward, very still, hunched up with his face immersed in the thick black carpet, seemed to recall something to his mind. "Barbara!" he murmured in a strained voice.
"If I'm to work with this girl," said Desmond to himself, "I'm going to have all the cards on the table here and now," so forthwith he told her of the Chief's suspicions of the dancer, the letter recommending her to Bellward found when the cheese merchant had been arrested, and lastly of the black hair which had been discovered on the thongs with which Barbara had been fastened.
Desmond was about to grasp it when he saw gleaming on the third finger a gold snake ring with emerald eyes the ring that Mrs. Malplaquet had given Bellward. He was about to draw back but the man was too quick for him. Owing to the slope of the ground the window of the summer-house was on a level with Desmond's throat. The man's two hands shot out simultaneously.
I know she has a very strong recommendation to you, so I naturally thought well, no matter!" He rose and extended his hand. "Au revoir, Bellward," he said, "you shall hear from me very soon. You've got a snug little place here, I must say, and everything in charming taste. I like your pretty cushions."
Bellward shook her off roughly. "Neat work!" said Strangwise. "She's a wonder with the knife!" agreed the other. Barbara stamped her foot. "If neither of you men have the courage to go down," she cried, "then I'll go alone! As for you, Captain Strangwise, a British officer..." She never finished the sentence. Strangwise caught her by the shoulder and thrust the cold barrel of a pistol in her face.
I do hope as how I've not done wrong, sir. I says to Mr. Hill, I says..." Desmond held up his hand to restrain her toothless babble. Nur-el-Din had stirred and was sitting up, rubbing her eyes. Then she caught sight of Desmond and scrambled rather unsteadily to her feet. "Monsieur Bellward?" she said in French, "oh, how glad I am to see you!"
'Oh! she says, I then I wait! And in she comes without so much as with your leave or by your leave. She told me as how you knew her, sir, and were expecting to see her, most important, she said it was, so I hots her up a bit o' dinner. I hopes as how I didn't do wrong, Mr. Bellward, sir!" "Oh, no, Martha, not at all!" Desmond replied at random. He was sorely perplexed as to his next move.
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