"But the Jewel is now lost!"
"So I understand. I read the report of the death of your housekeeper."
Colpster gazed in astonishment at the little man. "Did that interest you?"
"Naturally," rejoined Akira, unmoved, "seeing that her death was connected with the Mikado Jewel."
"Are you sure that it is the same?" asked Colpster breathlessly.
"Assuredly, from the description. I expect the thief, whosoever he was, brought the emerald to London."
"But who stole it from Miss Carrol?"
Akira shrugged his shoulders and spread out his small hands. "Alas! I do not know. But you should, Mr. Colpster, seeing that the thief proposed to transfer it to your housekeeper through Miss Carrol?" He looked very directly at his host as he spoke.
The Squire reflected for a few minutes. "I will be frank with you, Count," he observed earnestly. "That emerald brought good luck to our family, and since it has left our possession, we have had misfortunes and losses. I wished to get back the jewel and gave Basil a sum of money to----"
"To offer to buy it back," interrupted Akira, nodding. "Yes, I know. You sent him on a dangerous errand, Mr. Colpster. But for me he would have been murdered, as perhaps you know."