“Dear me!” Hart quietly exclaimed, interrupting. “Yes, yes, I remember that one of the clerks mentioned it. Unfortunately, the vault containing the jewels had been closed for the day and could not be opened. Let me have our ticket, or voucher, given you for the pledge and I will get them.”
Nick had had a constant eye on Hart’s face. He saw that the man lost color, that an apprehensive expression in his squinted eyes evinced a perturbation that he could not entirely conceal. This convinced Nick that he was on the right track, though he realized that he still was laboring under some difficulties.
“Unfortunately, too, we are not in possession of the ticket for the loan,” he replied. “It is in the keeping of his wife, who has gone away for a time with a friend.”
“You must communicate with her, then, and have her send you the ticket,” Hart rejoined.
“We cannot do that.”
“Not do it?”
“No. We are not informed of her address.”
“But you cannot expect us to redeem the pledge to any person except the holder of the ticket,” Hart quickly protested. “That is the only safeguard for both parties. You must bring the ticket, of course, in order to obtain the jewels. Otherwise, we cannot possibly let you have them.”
“But——”
“Oh, there is nothing to it,” Hart insisted. “We do business in no other way.”