"I suppose you only want this to be indicated?" he said.
"Yes," agreed Philip, who had not the remotest idea what he meant.
"Sixpence," was the curt rejoinder.
Philip thought he would be called on to pay many pounds—some amount in the nature of a percentage of the sum named in the agreement. He produced the coin demanded, and made no comment. With stamp or without, he knew that Isaacstein would go straight in this preliminary undertaking. A single glimpse of the monster diamond in his pocket had made that quite certain.
For the rest, he was rapidly making out a plan which should secure his interests effectually. He hoped, before the day was out, to have set on foot arrangements which would free him from all anxiety.
From Somerset House he drove to the Pall Mall Hotel. A gigantic hall porter, looking like a youthful major-general in undress uniform, received him with much ceremony and ushered him to the office, where an urbane clerk instantly classed him as the avant courier of an American family.
"I want a sitting room and bedroom en suite," said Philip.
"One bedroom?" was the surprised query.
"Yes."
"How many of you are there, then?"