I laughed. The thing was too absurd.
“If the wage of a sin is a five-thousand-dollar diamond, there’s got to be the sin to earn it. That old sport was not taking any chance on getting the value of his money.”
“O. K.,” said Walker.
“Then you think he has been paid for it?” I said.
“Surely,” said Walker, “that man has been paid for it.”
The taxicab turned out of the Avenue presently when the jam of vehicles was released, and stopped before the Grand Central Station.
Walker paused a moment when we got down.
“If I put the thing together correctly,” he said, “they will be here. The girl came in for her diamond.... How she earned it puzzles me.... The man had to get through with it as quickly as he could.”
He made a little gesture.
“From the station to Bartoldi’s in a taxicab and back to the first train out—that would be his plan—to hurry.”