"Are you a party to this deal?"
"No, indeed!" emphatically replied the dealer. "I'm a victim. She came in a while ago and said her father died, leaving a stock of diamonds to her as he had been an importer. As she offered to sell them very cheap, I was selecting a lot to buy, when you came in."
"I believe you, sir."
"I am a respectable business man."
"Oh, there can't be any doubt of that. This girl is developing into one of the most expert crooks in the country. For her own good it's a blessing that I've caught her before she gets any worse."
"That's a fact."
"Kindly gather up those gems in a package for me."
"Certainly. I'm glad you arrived in time to save me from buying goods of this kind. I have no desire to do any crooked business."
He made a package of the diamonds.
Harry then turned his attention to Clara who was weeping bitterly and said to her in low tones: