"Indeed! What a pity! But as I said, no one has tried to sell anything of the kind to me lately."
There was no doubt that the old fellow felt very much relieved. He took hold of the bell rope and ordered his man-servant to bring in wine and cigars.
"Take a glass of wine with me, sir; both old and young need a good glass of wine, and you'll not get better than this: I brought it myself from Oporto in '47."
We each drank a glass, and I must admit that the wine was good.
The lawyer had hastily left the subject of the stolen gem, and had begun upon several interesting reminiscences from the year 1820 or so.
But it was not my plan to let him have his own way; I had opened my trenches, and I wished to advance to the attack.
"It is a nuisance," said I, "all these robberies of curiosities and costly jewels, which have taken place in the town of late. No one knows what bother they cause the police."
"I can understand," said the lawyer, unwilling again to approach the same theme; and he filled the glasses again with a shaking hand.
"Yes," I continued, "every one who possesses such things should be just as careful as old Frick of Drammen Road."
On hearing old Frick's name, the old fellow almost jumped out of his chair, but I continued mercilessly.