“I ought to have taken the opportunity when I had it,” replied Hugh. “I want to ask your help. May I begin at the beginning, and tell you all the story? or must I epitomize and curtail it?”
“Be as diffuse as you please. I shall understand the thing the better.”
So Hugh began, and told the whole of his history, in as far as it bore upon the story of the crystal. He ended with the words:
“I trust, Mr. Falconer, you will not think that it is from a love of talking that I have said so much about this affair.”
“Certainly not. It is a remarkable story. I will think what can be done. Meantime I will keep my eyes and ears open. I may find the fellow. Tell me what he is like.”
Hugh gave as minute a description of the count as he could.
“I think I see the man,” said Falconer. “I am pretty sure I shall recognise him.”
“Have you any idea what he could want with the ring?”
“It is one of the curious coincidences which are always happening,” answered Falconer, “that a newspaper of this very day would have enabled me, without any previous knowledge of similar facts, to give a probably correct suggestion as to his object. But you can judge for yourself.”
So saying, Falconer went to a side-table, heaped up with books and papers, maps, and instruments of various kinds, apparently in triumphant confusion. Without a moment’s hesitation, notwithstanding, he selected the paper he wanted, and handed it to Hugh, who read in it a letter to the editor, of which the following is a portion:—