“I could do no better,” said Rowton, with a frown between his brows.
“Stuff!” exclaimed Piper. “What is the good of having a man like you attached to us—a man who may trip us up at any moment—if you cannot do what you are commissioned to do? This loss of five hundred must be accounted for when we divide the profits.”
“As you please,” said Rowton, slightly bowing his head. “The money part of the business does not affect me in the least.”
“You have been feeding too well, my fighting cock,” said Piper with a sneer. “You would sing another tune were I to take you at your word.”
Rowton said nothing. He leant back in his chair folding his arms. The other men still lingered round the table where the specimen diamonds were lying. Piper went up to the table, took the little parcel, folded it up and placed it in his desk at the top of the room. He locked the desk and put the key in his pocket.
“The rest of the diamonds have got to be fetched to-night,” he said, looking at the men. “You, Scrivener, and you, Simpkins, had better accompany Rowton when he leaves us—wait for him outside the hotel, take the bag from him and bring it straight here. You can manage to do this when the policeman is off his beat.”
“Rather,” said Scrivener, with a smile. “All the same it is a ticklish business,” he added.
“But worth one hundred thousand pounds. We must realise that money and soon. I have got my plans all marked out. You, Scrivener, are the man for the job.”
“I?” said Scrivener, looking up with a startled and scared face.