“I hope, Mr. Narkom, I have found out everything,” he replied with a marked emphasis on the word hope. “But as we are told when in doubt or in difficulty to ‘look above’ for a way out, permit me to follow that advice before proceeding any further with the subject.”
Here he stepped to the centre of the room, twitched back his head, and, with chin upslanted and eyes directed toward the ceiling, moved slowly round in a narrow circle for a moment or two.
But of a sudden he came to a sharp standstill, rapped out a short, queer little laugh, and, altering these mysterious tactics, looked down and across the room at Sir Mawson Leake.
“I think the Ranee did not look to the security of those slim gold links a day too soon, Sir Mawson,” he said. “It is too much to ask a man to risk his whole fortune on the tenacity of a bit of age-worn wire as you have done, and if I were in your shoes I’d tell the old girl’s major domo when he comes for the necklace, to get it repaired somewhere else—and be dashed to him.”
“Good! Wouldn’t I, in a twinkling, if I could only lay hands on the wretched thing again. But I haven’t it, as you know.”
“Quite true. But you are going to have it—presently. I know where it is!”
“Mr. Cleek!”
“Gently, gently, my friends. Don’t go quite off your heads with excitement. I repeat, I know where it is. I have found it and——Mr. Narkom! Look sharp! A chair for Lady Leake—she’s tottering. Steady, steady, your ladyship; it will only complicate matters to lose a grip on yourself now; and you have kept up so brave a front all through, it would be a pity to break down at the end.”
“I am not breaking down. I am quite all right. Please go on, Mr. Cleek—please do. I can stand anything better than this. Are you sure you have found it? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I have had a nice little talk with old Jennifer, and a very satisfactory visit to Master Bevis Leake’s interesting ‘pirates’ cave’ and——Gently, gently, Sir Mawson; gently, all of you. Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. No, your ladyship, I did not find the necklace in that cave, and for the simple reason that it is not and never has been there—in short, neither your son Bevis nor the servant, Jennifer, has the least idea in the world where it is. I have, however, and if in return for handing it over to him, Sir Mawson will give me his promise to take that boy, Henry, back and give him another chance, he shall have it in his hands ten seconds afterward.”