He smiled grimly.
"But why have you brought me here?" I asked, after a pause.
"For the reason I have namedto show how implicitly I trust you."
It was only then that a thought flashed in upon me.
"You say," I exclaimed sharply, "that jewellery stolen in Great Britain sometimes finds its way here?"
"Most of the English stuff is got rid of in this room."
"And are youdo youryour 'clients' tell you where the 'stuff' comes from?"
"Always," the gaunt man answered. "That is a condition of my taking it off their hands. You will understand that large rewards are sometimes offered for the return of property intact and uninjured."
I paused to collect my thoughts before speaking again, anxious not to make a false step.
"Can you recollect," I said at last, "if jewellery taken from a country house in Berkshire, Englandthe house is called Holt Manorjust after Christmas, ever found its way here?"