“The box of jewels is to be held by the bank authorities, whom I at present represent, until someone brings a certain golden peacock studded with gems, certain papers explaining the peacock, and others dealing with the transfer of the jewels from the Rajah and Begum of Kam to George Inderwick, and finally a key which will fit the box.”
Marie looked at Alan, who brought out the objects named. “There you are, Mr. Berwick,” and he placed them under the manager’s very nose.
“Oh, ah, excuse me,” said Berwick, deeply interested at the sight of the old documents, and forthwith devoted himself to reading them. As the English was odd, to say the least of it, and the handwriting was crabbed—apparently that of a somewhat uneducated person—he was some time deciphering what was before him. Both Marie and Alan waited his pleasure quietly. “I am quite satisfied,” he said when he finished his reading, “that these are the necessary papers, and the key can speak for itself if it fits the lock of the steel box. Meanwhile, and until our two friends arrive, Mr. Fuller, perhaps you and Miss Inderwick will explain how you came to guess the riddle which is referred to in the letter from Simon Ferrier to his master.”
“And you can tell him also how we come to have the peacock,” said Marie, who still felt annoyed by the suspicious attitude of Berwick, although that was considerably modified by the production of the papers and the key.
“No,” said Alan decisively, “I shall tell that when Moon and Latimer arrive; there is no need to repeat the story twice. But it will serve to while away the time if we tell Mr. Berwick about the riddle.”
“Certainly it will,” said the manager in a lively tone; “and don’t be angry with me, Miss Inderwick, I must protect the interests of the bank, you know.”
Marie smiled and began to be somewhat ashamed of her irritation. “You must excuse me, Mr. Berwick,” she said cleverly, “but the discovery of my fortune has somewhat excited my nerves.”
“Very natural, very natural indeed. Well, Mr. Fuller, what about the riddle?”
Fuller lost no time, but related the various stages by which he and Marie had been led to guess the mystery of the peacock’s tail. He produced the silver ring by way of illustration, and finally convinced Mr. Berwick of the manner in which the secret had been discovered. “And the annoying part of the whole business,” concluded Alan, “is that the riddle is so easy.”
“When guessed, Mr. Fuller, when guessed,” said Berwick staring at the peacock, “but I assure you that I don’t wonder it has been hard to solve, and had not the accident of the silver ring, or rather that of the letter ‘K’ on the silver ring led you to the truth, I doubt if you would ever have solved it.” Berwick still eyed the bird steadily. “Most extraordinary! Ferrier was too clever, however, if I may say so; he concealed the treasure so well that the man he intended to benefit never did. Fate——” he bowed gallantly to Marie—— “reserved the gems of the Begum for fairer hands.”