“I don’t mean that—I’m alluding to the others. Found out anything about them?”
“Yes, and a very important thing, too: They are not Diamond Nick and Dutch Ella. Not in the least like them, neither are they disguised. Also, Miss Eastman’s injury is only a sprained wrist, it appears. You observe she does not even attempt to cover the back of her hand. I’m afraid, Mr. Narkom, you’ve been barking up the wrong tree.”
CHAPTER XXII
By this time the major, his daughter, and young Curzon Leake, full of deep and earnest solicitude for the long-erring Henry, and fairly bristling with questions and entreaties, had crossed the intervening space and were at Sir Mawson’s side; but as the details of what was said and done for the next ten minutes have no bearing upon the case in hand, they may well be omitted from these records. Suffice it then, that, on the plea of “having some very important business with these gentlemen, which will not permit of another moment’s delay,” and promising to “discuss the other matter later on,” Sir Mawson managed to get rid of them, with the story of the lost necklace still unconfessed, and was again free to return to the subject in hand.
“Of course, I can understand your reluctance, with those Indian chaps about, to take anybody into your confidence regarding the loss of the jewel, Sir Mawson,” said Cleek, as soon as the others were well out of hearing; “but sometimes a policy of silence is wise, and sometimes it is a mistake. For instance: if any of a man’s servants should know of a circumstance which might have a bearing upon a robbery they are not likely to mention it if they don’t even know that a robbery has been committed. However, we shall know more about that after I’ve been over the ground and poked about a bit. So, if you and her ladyship will be so kind, I should like to have a look indoors, particularly in Lady Leake’s boudoir, as soon as possible.”
Upon what trivial circumstances do great events sometimes hinge! Speaking, he turned toward the curve of the road to go back to the guarded gates of the house which he had so recently passed, when Lady Leake’s hand plucked nervously at his sleeve.
“Not that way! Not for worlds, with those Hindus on the watch!” she exclaimed agitatedly. “Heaven knows what they might suspect, what word they might send to the Ranee’s steward, if they saw us returning to the house without having seen us leave it. Come! there is another and a safer way. Through the grounds and round to the door of the music room, at the back of the building. Follow me.”
They followed forthwith, and in another moment were taking that “other way” with her, pushing through a thick plantation, crossing a kitchen garden, cutting through an orchard, and walking rapidly along an arboured path, until they came at last to the final obstacle of all—a large rock garden—which barred their progress to the smooth, close-clipped lawn at whose far end the house itself stood. This rock garden, it was plain from the course she was taking, it was Lady Leake’s intention to skirt, but Cleek, noting that there was a path running through the middle of it, pointed out that fact.
“One moment!” he said. “As time is of importance, would not this be the shorter and the quicker way?”