"And now I think of it, sir," amended Watkins, "we 'ave been shadowed ever since we went to Turkey. I never paid much attention to them, considering it was coincidence like, but its been one dark gentleman after another—at the Pera Palace Hotel in Constantinople, on the Orient Express, in London when we called on 'is ludship's solicitors—"
"What was that for?" interrupted Hugh—and to me: "Uncle James hated business. He couldn't be brought to any kind of business interview unless he had a pressing motive."
"Why, sir, Mister Hugh, I don't know rightly—leastways, 'twas after 'is conversation with Mr. Bellowes 'e sent the cablegram to you, sir. And 'e 'ad the Charter Chest sent up from the safe deposit vaults—but that was before we went to Turkey, to be sure, sir.'
"It was, eh?" Hugh was all interest. "How was that?"
"Why, sir, 'e rang for me one day at Chesby, and 'e was rubbin' 'is 'ands together like he does when 'e's pleased, and 'e said: 'Watkins, pack the small wardrobe and the portmanteau. We're goin' to run down to Constantinople.' 'Yes, sir,' I said, 'and do we go direct to Dover?' 'No,' 'e said, 'we'll go up to London. Wire Mr. Bellowes to 'ave the Charter Chest sent up from the bank. I must 'ave another look at it—' 'e was talkin' to himself like, sir—'I wonder if the hint might not 'ave been in the Instructions, after all.'"
Hugh jumped.
"By Jove, he has been after the treasure! The Instructions is the original parchment on which Hugh the First inscribed his command to his son to go after the treasure—carefully leaving out, however, the directions for finding it. And what happened then, Watty?"
"Why, sir, we went up to London, and Mr. Bellowes, 'e tried to persuade 'is ludship not to go. They were together 'alf the morning, and when they came from the private office I 'eard Mr. Bellowes say: 'I'm afraid I can't follow your ludship. There's not a word in the Instructions or any of the other documents to shed a ray of light on the matter.' 'That's what I wished to make sure of, Bellowes,' said 'is ludship, with a chuckle."
"Cryptic, to put it mildly," barked Hugh. "Dammit, I knew the old boy was up to some foolishness. If he's taken on some giddy crew of crooks for a piratical venture—"
"He wouldn't have called on you for help," I cut him off.