"Um!" he said. "Ah! This gentleman? Not one of your people, I think, Matherfield?"
"No, my lord. This gentleman is Mr. Hetherwick, of the Middle Temple, who is interested very deeply in certain matters connected with the affair. Mr. Hetherwick has been down to Riversreade with me, and your lordship can speak freely before him."
Lord Morradale gave Hetherwick a friendly, knowing nod. Then he glanced at the door, and Matherfield made haste to close it.
"Thank 'ee," said Lord Morradale. "Just as well to be in private. 'Um!—I think I'd better tell you something, Matherfield. I dare say that's a reasonable supposition of yours—that these villains took Madame Listorelle for her sister. But I don't think they did. I think they knew very well whom they were seizing. Mind you—they'd have seized Lady Riversreade too if she'd happened to be there. But it was madame they were after!"
"If your lordship would explain——" suggested Matherfield.
"I'm going to—it's what I come here for! I think I can just put you on the right scent. You may have heard that Madame Listorelle and I are about to marry? Very well, I accordingly knew a good deal about her affairs. Now, I don't know whether you know or not that Madame Listorelle is actively concerned—or has been—in buying and selling jewels on commission? That's her speciality."
"Heard something of it, my lord," replied Matherfield.
"Very well. Now, quite recently Madame Listorelle bought up in Paris a magnificent set of stones which had been at one time the property of a member of the Russian Imperial family. She brought them here to London, meaning, shortly, either to send or take them personally to America to her customer. This deal, unfortunately, got into the papers. Now, it's my belief that these fellows have kidnapped madame in order to get hold of these jewels. Do you see?"
"Ah!" exclaimed Matherfield. "I see, my lord! That puts a new aspect on the case. But—surely Madame Listorelle wouldn't have the stones on her?"
Lord Morradale winked—deliberately—at both his hearers.