"I had not supposed such criminals existed any longer," he said. "However, let me draw to your attention the fact that these incidents happened in New York. They could never have happened in England."
"They might have happened anywhere," interjected Nikka, speaking for the first time.
We turned to him with startled interest. His face was very serious as he leaned forward over the table.
"In the first place," he continued, "consider this treasure. I have always heard of it as the Treasure of the Bucoleon, but I believe it is also sometimes referred to as the Treasure of Andronicus."
"You mean to say, you, too, have heard of it?" exclaimed Mr. Bellowes.
"Yes. It is well-known in the Near East. I am a Gypsy. My father before me was Voivode Tzaibidjo, or King, of the Balkan Gypsies. Many tales come to my ears, for, though my people are scattered far and wide and no longer make pretense of being a nation, they still honor those who have been their leaders. I have heard, for instance, a story that a certain tribe of Gypsies in Constantinople guard the supposed site of the treasure. But I do not vouch for the story.
"I do, however, vouch for the statement that Lord Chesby is confronting an organized international band of criminals with many Gypsy members; and I do not believe that such a band would waste time on any enterprise which they did not have good reason to believe would promise handsome profits."
"You mean to say that such a band could operate in England to-day?" demanded the old lawyer doubtfully.
"They can, and almost certainly they do. Crime has increased since the war, remember. The removal of national barriers and the unsettlement of conditions have stimulated it anew. I know something of this band. If it is the one I have heard of we are menaced by the most intelligent combination of thieves, murderers and outlaws that ever acted together."
"What do you know about them?" I asked.