"Thanks!" I brought a chair forward in front of the old man and leaned toward him. "The fact is, that an audacious robbery has been committed; an unusually costly article has been stolen, and the superintendent has sent me to inquire about it."
"You don't suppose I buy stolen goods, sir?"
The lawyer's eyes blinked, and his hands and shrivelled fingers moved up and down the watch chain.
"No, of course not; but you know that it has happened once or twice before, that stolen goods have been offered to you for sale, and that you have been of inestimable value to us in giving the thief's description; therefore—"
"No, this time I cannot help you; no, not at all!"
"But you haven't yet heard what it is."
"No—but—but—I have not bought anything for a long time; nothing of consequence, or anything that could be of interest to you."
"That is tiresome—most tiresome! Our last hope is gone; if only the bracelet is not sent abroad! It would then be very difficult to get."
"Bracelet, you say; was it a bracelet, you said?"
"Yes, it was a bracelet, an uncommonly costly bracelet, set with precious stones, which disappeared from Adelina Patti's dressing-room in the theatre yesterday. You know she is appearing here for a few days. She had had it given her by the Emperor of Brazil."