Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-28
CHAPTER XIV.

matte changes, Bennington was surprised
for the moment. The thing Was like some
bewildesipg eastern vision. A moment ago
the place had been dull and dark, and now
like flash, warmth and light were there.
to say nothing of the tasteful extravaganza
of the supper table. Bennington could see
the fruit and the flowers, the dainty con-
fections and the costly wines. How had the
thing been managed?
But it was no moment to speculate about
that. So far it merely tended to prove the
almost diabolical cleverness of the people
with whom the police had to deal. The
rajah himself could be seen standing mood
lily in the doorway chewing a cigar between
his strong, yellow teeth. Bennington OBJ
served him very carefully.
AS one who knew India, Bennington was
in position to judge the man fairly well.
AS a matter of fact, the newcomer did not
look in the least like an eastern potentate.
True, his skin was dark, but not more sal
low than that of many a European. His
hair was thick, but his eyes were dark blue,
and his dress was eminently that of man
about town. With his public school and
university education, the ajah had passed
for an Englishman.
What sort of a reputation does he bear?"
Bennington asked in a whisper.
Shady Field replied briefly What you
call renegade, l should say. Has all the
vices of both hemispheres, without the
deeming features of either Low-class mu-
sic halls, ballet dancers, priZe-fighters and
the like. At the same time he's got the
good sense not to flaunt these vices before
the public, and he knows how to conduct
himself with dignity when there is any
necessity for it. Despite his handsome In
come. he is frequently in dire need of
money. Still, I should never have identified
him with this business had I not seen him
here. I had no idea that he even knew Sir
Charles Darryll and Mr.. Richford."
patiently, as If waiting for somebody. He
crossed over to the table and opened a bot
tie of champagne to which he helped him.
self literally. The fiZz of the wine could be
distinctly heard in the drawing room.
'Id give half my pension to know how
that thing is worked" said Bennington. "a
moment ago there was nothing on that ia
BILE. and now look at it! 1t would have
taken the staff of large hotel half an hour
to arrange meal like that. The flowers
alone would have occupied the time. The
servants here
you may bet your life that the servants
know nothing about it, Fie}l said. "They
have been sent away right enough I feel
quite sure that they are innocent Of every
thing. 1t would never do to let domestics
talk of these matters"
The rajah was pacing up and down the
dining room talking to himself A moment
later there was a rattle of latchkey and
two people came in. The first was a young
man with the unmistakable stamp Of the
shaver. the society actor Of today. He was
followed by an exceedingly pretty, fair
haired woman, who might have belonged to
the same profession. Just for the moment
1t occurred to Field that these were ordi-
nary guests who knew nothing of the mys-
terry of the house. There was nothing
about either of them to connect them with
crime or mystery.
They pitched their wraps carelessly on the
hall table as if they had been there before,
and made their way to the dining room. The
rajahs face grew eager.
well, my Children he said in excellent
English. have you had any luck? Cora,
dear tell me that you have succeeded in our
little counterpart
The womans pretty face grew hard. She
pulled chair up to the table and sat
down.
"Give me some Of that pate and open
bottle of champagne" she said. What
with this doubling about and covering up
ones tracks, I've had no time to think Of
food. The same remark applies to poor
Reggie here. Haven't we SUCCEEDED we'll
enough for you?'
'Well, yes, you managed the big thing all
right but that's not everything You man.
aged the big thing SO well that the police
are utterly baffled and don't know which
way to look. But the stones, carissima, the
sparkling stones. What Of them?"
The woma sn gave oo } ha of her ivory
the watchers lost in the darkness of the
drawing room.
THE deplorable luck was against u.s." she
said. Il actually had my hands upon the
stones and nearly snatched them away I'M
der the very eyes of the adorab BILE Richford.
said Ito myself we are not going to do his
work for nothing. He followed me to the
room where the stones were and we talked.
You see l had business in the room as you
know. And Reggie here was downstairs
making himself agreeable to the fair owner
of the stones, so that I had a free hand in
the matter. If Reggie had not been so in
AZ - @1,@
But what could 1 do?" the man called
Reggie protested. Never was so cruel
piece of bad luck in the history of war.
Who should come down but Langford?"<
But you We're so carefully disguised that
Langford could not possibly have known
YOU" the woman said.
Il admit it. 1 positively had forgotten the
fact for the moment The sight of Lang
of the moment l made my excuses and de-
parted"
Leaving the little girl uneasy and sus-
picious,'' said the woman, $50 that she
came up to her room where I and
walked off with the gems. I was very near
to taking her by the throat and half stran-
Cling her. But there were greater issues al
stake and / had to restrain my feelings. I
had to smile and nod and play my part
whilst the little lady sending the jewels
off to the safe custody of the hotel clerk.
could have danced with fury, I could have
wept with rage. But what was the good?"
Inc raJd1 SWOTe TOulluiy ana pdSSiolldtely
He could be seen from the drawing room,
striding about the place and mutterng as
he went.
ut is more than unfortunate" he said.
eff we could have got hold of those jewels
we should have had fortune in our grasp.
We were quite justified in robbing Richford,
who only serves me for his own ends. He
is bully and a coward and he must pay
the price. He says that he has no ready
money, that his affairs are more desperate
than we imagine. And yet he could find
the cash to buy those diamonds"
"They always mean cash." the woman
said. ut is a good thing for the wife of a
speculator to be in possession of a lot of
fine diamonds. 1t would have been a pre-
cious good thing for us, too, if Reggie had
not lost his nerve last night
Have you any idea who those people
are?" asked Bennington of his companion.
Not personally Field replied, but l
have a pretty shrewd idea. 1t Is very good
of them to come here just as nature made
Them and without DISCUSSES Surely you
know what they are talking about? The
discussion Is over Mrs. Richford's diamonds
which she nearly lost. as she told me. IN
less I am greatly mistaken, are listen
ing to confession of the way In which
that robbery had been planned. Stripped of
their very clever DISCUSSES, these two people
yonder are other than Countess de la
Moray and Gen. Gastang"
parrjpptO nodded wondering whv ~