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It's a plain question, and you'll understand why I ask it." "Of course," replied Delkin genially. "Quite right to ask. I can answer it in one word. No! No, sir! never a word from me got about not even to my own daughter. Of course, the Princess here and myself have discussed matters since she came. And now that you're here, Fullaway, I'll tell you what I think straight out.
"Aye, for sure," replied Allerdyke. "Come into this corner we'll have a glass of sherry it's early for lunch yet. Those reports, eh? About Fullaway and Delkin, you mean?" "Just so," said Appleyard, settling himself in the corner of a lounge and lighting the cigarette which Allerdyke offered him. "They're ordinary business reports, you know, got through the usual channels.
"Man from our side who's been here in London all this spring," answered Fullaway promptly. "He was coming with Allerdyke and me just now, but he turned back just when you and Delkin drove in here." Chilverton gave Fullaway a quick look. "Did he see me?" he asked. "Sure!" replied Fullaway. "Asked who you were or I did." "You did," remarked Allerdyke. "Then he went off."
"You think it possible that the Nastirsevitch affair is the work of one lot, and the Lennard affair the work of another?" asked Allerdyke, thoughtfully. "In that case, I'll ask you a question, Mr. Delkin. How do you account for the fact that my cousin James, the Frenchwoman, Lisette Beaurepaire, and his valet, Ebers, or Federman, or Herman, were all found dead under similar circumstances?
Van Koon, who had been staring about him as they crossed over from the corner of Wellington Street, turned and glanced at the occupants of the car. Allerdyke was looking there, too. He had never seen Delkin as yet, and he was curious to set eyes on a man who had made several millions out of canning meat.
And what I want to know now, Mrs. Marlow, is do you think he got access to our letters, papers, books? Could he find out, for instance, that I was engaged in this deal between the Princess Nastirsevitch and Mr. Delkin, and that Miss Lennard had bought the Pinkie Pell pearls? Think!" Mrs. Marlow had evidently done her thinking; she replied without hesitation.
Fullaway at any rate knew of his world-wide reputation; Allerdyke faintly remembered that he had heard of him in connection with some great criminal affair. "Been telling Mr. Chilverton about our business, Mr. Delkin?" asked Fullaway pleasantly. "Asking his expert advice?" "I've told him no more than what he could read for himself in the newspapers," answered Delkin.
"All about the Hull affair and the Lennard affair, I took that to mean from your account," remarked Appleyard. "If she's his confidential secretary, with access to his papers and business, she'd know all about the Princess transaction. Now, of course, an inquiry or two of the usual sort would satisfy you about Fullaway I mean as a business man. An inquiry or two would tell you all about Delkin.
"Did she ever have the chance of getting hold of a quarter of a million's worth of jewels before?" asked Delkin with a shrewd glance at Allerdyke. "Come, now! Even the most trusted people fall before a very big temptation. All business folk know that. What's Mr. Allerdyke think?" Allerdyke was not going to say what he thought. He was wondering if Fullaway knew what he knew that Mrs.
Sum total what!" "Next to naught," said Appleyard. "In a case like this you ought to know more. Fullaway may be all right. Fullaway may be all wrong. His lady secretary may be as right as he is, or as wrong as he is. As to Delkin he might be a creature of Fullaway's imagination. Put it all to yourself now, Mr.
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