“This much. That before we can be sure of Sorley being mixed up with the crime, we must learn for certain if he possesses the peacock of jewels.”
“But how can we?”
“We can’t, but you can, Alan. Sorley’s request that you should talk cryptograms with him at Christmas can only arise from his desire to solve the riddle of the peacock. Wait and hear what he has to say.”
“And then?” asked Fuller, nodding approval.
“Then we shall be able to take another step along this dark path. You mean to travel it, I presume?” asked Dick, looking up searchingly.
“Of course I do,” replied the young man emphatically. “If those jewels are in existence they belong to Marie, and I want to find them before Sorley does, lest he should make off with them.”
“Well,” said Latimer grimly, “I daresay he would bolt, both because he loves jewels and moreover—if guilty—must dread risking his neck.”
“Guilty? If he possesses the peacock he must be guilty.”
“It would appear so, Alan, since only by means of the peacock can the gems be discovered. If he finds them we can assume very reasonably that he killed Baldwin Grison, but as yet so far as we know the jewels are still hidden.” Dick thought for a few moments, then ventured on advice. “You have a week or so before taking your Christmas holiday. Why not visit Miss Grison at her boarding-house? You know where it is.”
“Yes. She gave me her card. But she won’t speak out, Dicky. Had she been certain of Sorley’s criminality she would have denounced him then and there to gratify her hatred.”