“Such as?”
“Such, for example, as the names of persons who were aware of the existence of the diamonds in Mr. Duke’s safe. That is one of many lines.”
“Yes? And others?”
“Suppose we take that one first. Can you, as a matter of fact, tell me if the matter was known of over here?”
“I knew of it, if that is what you mean,” Mr. Schoofs answered in a slightly dry tone. “Mr. Duke told me of his proposed deal, and asked me to look out for stones for him. Mr. Vanderkemp also knew of it, as he bought a lot of the stones and took them to London. But I do not think any one else knew.”
“What about your clerk and office boy?”
Mr. Schoofs shook his head.
“It is impossible that either could have heard of it.”
French, though he had begun inauspiciously, continued the interrogation with his usual suavity. He asked several other questions, but without either learning anything of interest, or surprising Schoofs into showing embarrassment or suspicious symptoms. Then he turned to the real object of his visit.
“Now about your traveller, Mr. Schoofs. What kind of man is Mr. Vanderkemp?”