“My dearest, the jewels were legally assigned to George Inderwick for a very great service. I am sure that the Rajah of Kam in those days would rather have lost his jewels than his wife and only son. As to Bakche, I am sorry that he died in so terrible a way, and had he lived, undoubtedly I should have kept the promise made on your behalf and handed over one third of the treasure. But Bakche did not act well, or honorably.”
“What do you mean?” asked Marie opening her azure eyes very widely, “If he had not spoken out, poor Uncle Ran might have been hanged.”
“Quite so, dear. But he only spoke out when bribed to do so. He knew all along that Miss Grison was guilty, and yet held his tongue.”
“He wouldn’t have done so had Uncle Ran been brought to trial?”
Alan smiled grimly. “I shouldn’t like to have given him the chance,” he said in a skeptical tone. “Bakche, like most people, acted in an entirely selfish way, and was ready to sacrifice every one for the sake of gaining his own ends. Had Miss Grison given him the peacock, and had he solved the riddle and secured the jewels, he would not have confessed what he knew.”
“But Jotty might have done so.”
“It’s not improbable,” admitted Fuller musingly. “Jotty was wonderfully greedy, and was willing to sell anyone for quids, as he called them. He certainly sold Miss Grison for the sake of the few gems your uncle gave him. However, let us hope that the reformatory Inspector Moon has placed him in will improve him into a decent member of society. He’s sharp enough and clever enough to do well in the world.”
“But he hasn’t had a fair chance, dear.”
“Perhaps not; but he has one now. Miss Grison gave him one also, but only because he knew too much and the brat was aware that he had her under his thumb. However, Marie, I have told Moon that when Jotty improves you and I will give him enough money to go to America and make a new start. So that disposes of Jotty.”
“I wonder Miss Grison didn’t stick that horrid stiletto into him,” said Miss Inderwick with a shudder “seeing how he betrayed her.”