The eyes of the jeweler wandered from the detective and settled on the face of Beecher. The look made the young man flush. It was as though the smiling, affable confidant of feminine mysteries and intrigues was asking himself what part in all this he were playing.
"Can you tell me for whom you are acting, Mr. Beecher?" he said suddenly.
McKenna made a gesture of warning, interrupting:
"I'm sorry—we cannot."
"Have you a warrant?" continued Mapleson seriously. "In other words, is this a friendly meeting, or a legal procedure?"
"There is no warrant as yet. It is a case we particularly desire to keep out of court," said McKenna.
"It is very embarrassing," said Mapleson frankly, "very. I don't know quite how to act. Of course, McKenna, considering your relations with our firm, I should always be glad to assist you in any way—you understand that. The present case is different. The ring was not pledged with Sontag & Company, but with me personally. It is a personal matter and a very delicate one."
"I understand that," said McKenna, frowning. "And yet I must inform you that I shall probably have to proceed in the usual manner."
"Of course, if I'm brought into court on a summons," said Mapleson thoughtfully, "that is different. If I am faced by the fact that a theft has taken place, I can do nothing else but aid the law."
"But now—"