Fuller answered the first part of the question, and passed over the latter. “I am wondering if he has anything to do with the peacock?”
This remark put an end to Marie’s egotism for the time being. “Why should he have anything to do with it?” she demanded, astonished.
“Well,” exclaimed the young man quietly, “he has come to England, so he told me to search for some mislaid family property. He is descended from that Rajah of Kam to whom George Inderwick was sent by the H.E.I.C., my dear.”
Marie, having read and re-read the story of Ferrier grasped the connection at once. “Then he knows about the peacock?” she cried in dismay.
“That is what I wish to learn. The Begum of Kam certainly gave the jewels we are looking for to George Inderwick, from whom they descend to you, so as Morad-Bakche represents the Kam family it is just possible that he has come to get back the gems if he can.”
“He sha’n’t have them,” cried Marie, becoming flushed, “don’t let him take them, Alan.”
Fuller laughed. “We have to find them first,” he remarked coolly. “When we have them in our possession, then we can talk over Morad-Bakche’s claim.”
“He sha’n’t have them,” murmured Marie, much disturbed; “they are mine. And after all, Alan, he may not have come for the Begum’s treasure.”
“He may, or he may not. I am unprepared to give an opinion. Only it is so strange that he should live at Miss Grison’s boarding-house, considering that she knows about the peacock, which is to reveal the whereabouts of what the man probably desires. He didn’t get to that boarding-house by chance, I am certain. And Dick fancies also—by his sixth sense, as he declares—that Morad-Bakche may have designs on the treasure.”
“It is very strange,” said Miss Inderwick, pondering over this speech; “but how could he find out that Miss Grison knew about the peacock?”