surprise, and then one of the men, in a deep, low voice, seemed to enter into a long explanation. The elder of the two strangers walked along the shop to the door, and going outside, spoke some words to the man who had accompanied them. On re-entering, he passed me, giving me a sharp glance, and then disappeared again into the office, where, [Pg 15]for five minutes or so, he remained closeted with the manager. [Pg 15] Presently the last-named came out, and as he approached me I noticed an entire change in his manner. He was pale, almost to the lips. “Will you step into my office for one moment?” he asked. “There’s—well, a little matter upon which I want to speak to you.” This surprised me. What could he mean? Nevertheless, I consented, and in a few moments found myself in a large, well-lit office with the manager and the two strangers. The man in the brown felt hat was the first to speak. “We want to ask you a question or two,” he said. “Do you recognise this?” and he produced a small square photograph of a man upon whose coat was a white ticket bearing a bold number. I started when my eyes fell upon it. “My master!” I ejaculated. The portrait was a police photograph! The men were detectives! The inspector, for such he was, turned to the jeweller’s manager, and regarded him with a significant look. “It’s a good job we’ve arrested him with the stuff on him,” he remarked, “otherwise you’d never have seen the colour of it again. He’s worked the same dodge in Rome and Berlin, and both times got clear away. I suppose he became a small customer, in order to inspire confidence—eh?” [Pg 16] [Pg 16] “Well, he came in this morning, saying that he wished to give his wife a tiara for the anniversary of her wedding, and asked that he might have two on approval, as he was undecided which to choose, and wished her to pick for herself. He left his car and chauffeur here till his return, and took away two worth five thousand pounds each. I, of course, had not the slightest suspicion. Lord Ixwell—the name by which we know him—is reputed everywhere to be one of the richest peers in the kingdom.”
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