Indeed, this latest discovery was significant. Baron Hague had brought with him, for Rohscheimer's examination, a packet of rough diamonds. Rohscheimer had established his fortunes in South Africa; and, be it whispered, there were points of contact between his own early history and the history of the packet of diamonds which Hague carried to-night. In both records there were I.D.B. chapters.
The two men stared at each other—and sometimes glanced into the shadows of the corridor.
"He must be in league with the devil," continued Rohscheimer, "if he has got to know about those stones! But it certainly looks as though——"
"Where can I hide them from him—from this man who I hear cannot be kept out of anywhere?"
"Hague," said Rohscheimer, shakily, "you'd be safer at your hotel than here. He's held people up in my house once before!"
As may be divined, Rohscheimer's chiefest fear was that his name, his house, should be associated with another mysterious outrage. He knew Baron Hague to have about his person stones worth a small fortune, and he was all anxiety—first, to save them from Séverac Bablon, the common enemy; second, if Baron Hague must be robbed, to arrange that he be robbed somewhere else!
"I have not ordered my gar until twelve o'clock," said the Baron.
"Mine can be got ready in——"
"I won't wait! Gall me a gab!"
That proposal fell into line with Rohscheimer's personal views, and he wasted not a moment in making the necessary arrangements.