“Well no, Mr. Bakche. The story told by Miss Grison is well known in Belstone, the parish of which my father is the vicar. I have heard it before.”
“Have you heard before that this man Grison was murdered for the sake of the peacock?” demanded the Indian rather impatiently, and thereby showed that his indifference was mainly pretence.
“It was commonly reported in Belstone that the Grisons, brother and sister, had stolen the peacock from the Inderwick family when they left The Monastery some twenty years ago. But, pardon me, Mr. Bakche, why do you come here and ask me these questions?”
“Can’t you guess, sir?”
“How can I guess?” retorted Fuller cautiously.
“By putting two and two together, as is your English way,” said Bakche in a calmer manner. “I told you when you dined at Miss Grison’s that I had come to England in order to recover certain family property.”
“You did. Well?”
“The property I referred to is the peacock of jewels,”
“How did you expect me to know that, Mr. Bakche?”
“I can answer that if you will reply to a question?”