"You speak English, I see," said Archie to Ferrari, after the first greetings had passed.
"Certainly, signor," replied the Italian, showing his white teeth. "I have been long from Italy? Oh, yes. The estates of America."
"Where I had the pleasure of meeting Signor Ferrari," observed Mrs. Belswin, ceremoniously.
At this the signor bowed, but made no remark, so Maxwell, seeing that he would not commit himself to speech unless questioned, began at once on the main object of the interview.
"Mrs. Belswin, I presume, told you I wished to see you, Signor Ferrari?"
The Italian bowed.
"About an article of jewellery belonging to you?"
Ferrari bowed again.
"Which was found on the terrace at Thornstream, the residence of the late Sir Rupert Pethram?"
The signor bowed for the third time and Maxwell, hot-blooded in all things, began to lose his temper at this persistent silence.