“Now—note my liberality—I do not insist upon a reciprocal indorsement of my dexterity, since I see”—pointing to the gag which he had inserted in the mouth of the detective—“since I see, with deep regret, that you have an impediment in your speech.
“I excuse you in advance.
“Still, I cannot resist the temptation of chiding your indifference to such a brilliant argument as this,” and the Sepoy caused the sapphire to scintillate its mocking rebuke into the eyes of the wretched Gratz.
“I must also improve the occasion by calling your attention to the reprimand offered by your plight to your curiosity, for you see to what a pass it has brought you.
“However, since it would be a malice of which I am incapable not to gratify it, I will show you what it was I had in reserve,” and the Sepoy produced the small shagreen case with which Raikes had been on such questionable terms of familiarity, and pressing back the lid revealed the splendid diamond to the still impassive Gratz.
With a continuation of his elaborate courtesy and his purposely stilted phrasing, the Sepoy said: “If the sapphire was argument, this was certainly conviction. The moral barrier which could withstand the assault of the first, must, unquestionably, have yielded to the insidious attack of the second.
“But since you have managed to place yourself beyond the reach of such considerations, I will be compelled to discontinue my futile eloquence and leave you to your more mature reflections.
“Observe!” he continued, as he replaced the sapphire in the case and restored the latter to the right-hand pocket of his waistcoat, “I place the argument in this repository”; and treating the diamond in like manner, he deposited that in the left-hand pocket and added: “And place the conviction on this side.
“It is not often that one is the embodiment of belles-lettres, having such details of logic so easily within reach.”
During all this travesty of demeanor and phrase, with its tantalizing mockery and its crafty insinuation, Gratz had betrayed no emotion whatever, nor did his eyes lose one whit of their usual placidity as he beheld the Sepoy, with a sort of lithe, animal rapidity, produce a small traveling-case from the wardrobe and return with it to the bag of coin on the table.