“That connected with the golden peacock. You know the story?”
“Only that there is such a fetish, which is supposed to be the luck of the Inderwicks.”
“And has been for one hundred years and more. But the secret———”
“I have heard nothing about that.”
“Now I come to think of it, I daresay you haven’t. I only became acquainted with the real meaning of the peacock of jewels a year ago. I read all about it in a manuscript which I found in the library. When was the battle of Plassey, Alan?”
“In 1757,” answered Fuller, who had a good memory for dates.
“It was won by Lord Clive, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. But what has that to do with the peacock?”
“A great deal, as you shall hear.”
“One moment, Marie. Is this peacock of Indian workmanship?”