“It was soon after my adventure with the Head-hunting Waas,” I said, “about which I shall tell you some day.”
The Pimple smiled knowingly. “I know it,” he said; “months ago Captain Freeland told me in confidence.”
“Did he? Well, it got about that I had learned occultism in captivity. A lady asked me to consult the Spirit about a gold watch she had lost.”
“Did you find it?” the Pimple asked.
“Oh yes. Quite easily. Then several other people came who had lost other things. The Spook found them all. Then came a man who asked me to find a diamond necklace for a friend of his, whose name he would not give. I tried, and the Spook became abusive—for three months it abused us. Finally a fakir told me the reason. The Spook was angry because the sitter kept back the name of the lady who wanted the necklace. It wanted our full confidence and full faith.”
“I MADE MY PLANS TO GO ON SKIS AND BEGAN TO TRAIN”
“But we have full faith,” said the Pimple, “yet it abuses us.”
“Of course we have,” I agreed. “The present case is quite different, for we are not keeping back anything from the Spook or hiding anybody’s interest in the search. You see, in the affair of the diamond necklace the lady who wanted it was in a very high social position, and she was afraid of being laughed at for consulting the Spook, so she remained in the background. That made the Spook angry.”
“I see,” said Moïse. “And did you find the necklace in the end?”