“Can you describe the diamond, Miss Ward?” he asked. “And tell me its value?”
“It is a diamond of astonishing purity, of about forty-nine carats, and has an extraordinary play and brilliance,” answered Miriam. “Though much smaller in size than other world-famous diamonds, it is claimed by experts to be an absolutely flawless gem. I believe it is worth in the neighborhood of $200,000 and possibly more.”
A low whistle escaped Trenholm. “A frightful invitation to crime!” he ejaculated.
“And Boris Zybinn was in Canada and in communication with Paul Abbott,” pointed out Miriam slowly. “Mr. Trenholm, I know a little of the evil accomplished by that renegade Russian. There is some significance in those letters of his to Mr. Abbott, innocent as they may appear. I will never believe otherwise!”
Trenholm leaned forward and, picking up the letters, laid them in Miriam’s hands. “Read them over carefully,” he begged. “I am open to conviction. But look here, Miss Ward, why didn’t Zybinn come down to Abbott’s Lodge and visit Paul and then steal the diamond? He might have done that without arousing suspicion. Why write letters about it?”
“Possibly he feared arrest and extradition for a former crime if he came into the United States,” suggested Miriam, and Trenholm straightened up abruptly.
“There may be something in that idea,” he admitted. “Read the letters aloud, Miss Ward.”
Obediently Miriam opened first one and then another. Except for the precision of the language used, none were out of the ordinary. Each letter began: “My dear Abbott,” and closed with the conventional, “Yours sincerely,” and the signature, “Boris Zybinn.” The contents of each referred only to agriculture. Miriam dropped the last one in her lap with a despondent gesture; then her expression brightened.
“You haven’t looked at the unopened letter,” she exclaimed. “See, you have left it there on the table.”
Trenholm picked up the envelope and examined it carefully. “It is just like the others in appearance,” he declared. “It must have come several days before Paul’s murder,” examining the postmark. “Corbin, however, can answer that question.”