The Ely miner., 1930-08-08
CHAPTER V-Continued


ago, | was called to the telephone
one afternoon, and found Sir Samuel
speaking TO me. He wanted me TO go
round to Park lane there and then,
TO look at and estimate the value of
diamond that had been offered to him.
/ found Sir Samuel and Lady Locke
in their library: they had with them
a stranger whose appearance, as !
recOllect it, corresponds with the de-
ScriptiOn of MaZaroff given in the
newspapers particularly remember
the cast in the left eye. He vas not
introduced 10 me by name. 1t ap-
peared that the stranger was one who
was interested in diamonds in large
way, had heard of Sir Samuel and his
wife as possible buyers. and was will
ing to sell them something of very
special value: TO wit a remarkable
pair of blue diamonds, of which he had
one in his pocket. II was this thar
! was asked to see. He told me that
ii was one of a pair-the other was
equally fine. He further said that he
had been in the diamond trade for
some years. in South Africa. had now
retired. and this would he his last
deal What the LOekes wanted to get
at waS-whaT were the two diamonds
worth? The wOuld-be vendor and my
self had good deal Of talk sbOut the
matter He was very fair and reason
able, and he and | eventually came to
a decision as TO a proper price for
the pair"
"And what might that be?" asked
Crole, eagerly.
well" answered Frobenius, I'VE
agreed that fair price would be
hundred and sixty thousand pounds"
Crole let out an exclamation of as
tonishment.
pounds for a couple of diamonds !"
he said. "Whew that's a bit excep
tiOnal. isn't it?"
You nave to bear in mind that the
diamonds are exceptional" answered
Frobenius. The sum we agreed upon
travagant one"
'And what happened?" asked May
thorne. "Was the deal carried out p
THAT | do not KNOW" replied Fro
benius. 81 perceived that after having
agreed with the seller as to what
played, and | left seller and buyer
talking the matter over"
you've heard nothing since?" In
quired Crole.
Nothing. | haven't seen Sir Sam
uel Locke, nor Lady Locke, since that
afternoon" said the ;eweler. "And of
course haven't seen the blue diamond
man. But | feel sure that he was the
man who is referred to in the news
papers as MazarOff."
Il don't think there's much doubt
about that" assented Crole. "Well,
now, we'd better get in touch with
these Locke people, he continued,
glancing at me and Maythorne. Park
lane, you said?'
SIR FrObenius gave us the exact ad-
dress of Sir Samuel Locke and left
us. Croie and |, as il by common i'm
pulse. looked at our companion.
"Well?" said Crole whats May.
thorne asking himself"
Maythorne looked up from a pattern
which he was mechanically tracing on
the tablecloth
"Only one thing to ask-at present"
he said Ibid Mazaroff sell those dia-
mOnds to Sir Samuel Locke? If he
didn't"
"Well?" demanded Crole.
"Then, in that case, Armintrade's
got them-in my opinion. And-the
job will be TO prove that ne has
Where have we got the slightest clew
TO what we want to establish-that
he and Mazaroff met on that first day
after MaZaroff and Holt arrived at
the WOOdcock? But we're getting at
something-and ii all points to Ar
mintrade. Now let's 81 this Sir Sam
uel man and get step further"
We chartered taxicab and were
driven to Park lane. where we pulled
up in front of an imposing mansion.
at the door of which we were encOun.
tered by fOOtmen whose liveries were
rather more gorgeous than the usual
run of things in that way. The room
into which we were ushered after We
had sent In our cards looked as IL
some very high-elass upholsterer had
been given carte blanche to wreak his
own will and fancy on it. A little.
apple-cheeked, rotund man. who wore
mutton-ch0p whiskers and a ready