"He's gone, Merton. And I'm in awful trouble."
"I'm sorry to hear it. I began to fancy something was up when you didn't make your appearance. Here, let's have a light on the scene."
He struck a match and lit the office lamp. Having done so, he looked at Ellison. His surprise found vent in a little cry.
"My dear chap, you do looked hipped indeed. Hold on a second."
He fled the scene, to return two minutes later with the whiskey bottle and a glass. Having given him a strong dose of the spirit, he said:
"Sit yourself down and try and tell me all about it. Who knows but what I may be in a position to help you?"
Thereupon Ellison told him everything.
"By Jove!" was the rejoinder, "I don't like the look of things at all. It's a bad business—a very bad business. Somebody has evidently found out about the pearl, got a duplicate made, and palmed it off on you. Is it possible to have one made here, d'you think?"
"Nothing easier. Any of the Cinghalese over the way could make one."
"Then he must have got one there, taken the real one, and substituted this in place of it. Now whom have you told about it? Think well."