“In such demonstrations a centralizing object is an almost indispensable adjunct; and putting the two together, the stories, the brilliants, it is not difficult to see that you have received your instructions in the manner indicated, and obeyed them with unexpected consistency.”
For a moment there was silence, which was sharply disturbed by an unexpected and apparently unsuggested query from Gratz.
“Were you ever,” he asked, looking directly at Raikes, “in this apartment during the absence of its occupant?”
“No!” stammered Raikes, apparently very much astonished at the question.
“You lie!”
Raikes and his nephew sprang to their feet, their eyes bulging in the direction of the bedroom.
In the doorway stood the Sepoy.
“You lie!” he repeated, “you miserable husk, you! You were here one evening in my absence, or, at least, what you supposed was my absence,” and raising his manacled hands the speaker pointed to the closet. “I was there,” he said.
“Ah—ah!” faltered Raikes chokingly.
“And now,” continued the Sepoy, “let us get to the end of this business. It ought to be a simple proceeding. You want three missing bags of gold; they will be forthcoming on one condition.”