Adventure, December 1914 — page 150: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

148 “Who may that be? A visitor for Messrs. Latraille, Olgano & Co., at this time of day —so long after the firm has ceased to exist?”’ Martin Adair stood quite still. Pres- ently the knocking came again, furtive as before. Then the flap meant for letters was pressed back; it was screened by a metal sort of hood, so that while letters could be inserted, no one outside could see into the room. Through the lifted flap there came the sound of whistling; some one without was softly whistling a few bars ofa little tune. ‘The visitor is a musician. Is that an air of his own composition, or is it a prear- ranged and familiar signal? Did Creed recognize the visitor when he heard that tune? My friend, whoever you are, you’ll knock, you'll whistle in vain; you'll stay outside. The firm is dead.” CHAPTER XIII OVER THEIR COFFEE HE TWO men were seated in the lounge of the Colossus Hotel, having had an excellent dinner in the restaurant. Martin Adair was on one side of a tiny table; his host, John Harper, was on the other. They were having coffee. Pres- ently Adair said: “Your note, Harper, asking me to dine with you tonight came in the very nick of time. I wanted some one whom [I could consult on certain rather delicate matters, and when I had your note I said to myself, ‘This is just the man.’”’ “How?” The speaker was a spare, dark man, whose black hair, cut very short without any parting, gave him an oddly foreign appear- ance. ‘‘You don’t know much about me. How do you know that I’m a man you can - consult on delicate matters? I met you in Paris; we chummed up together, I’ve seen you two or three times since, and practically that’s the whole of our acquaintance. How do you know what sort of a person I am?” His voice was very soft and quiet; he scarcely moved his lips‘as he was speaking. The whole man conveyed the impression of immobility. “Y know more about you than you sup- pose. I’ve been making inquiries about you, Mr. Harper.” “You have? That’s good. And you’ve learned?” Adventure “T’ve learned for one thing that you’re one of the largest dealers in precious stones in Europe, and one of the finest judges.”’ ‘Who told you that?” “A gentleman in Hatton Garden. A Mr. Isaac Abraham.” ‘Isaac Abraham? Yes, I know Mr. Isaac Abraham. Is it about precious stones that you wish to consult me?” “I am myself a pretty good critic of a man; and I think, Mr. Harper, you may be safely consulted on other matters besides precious stones. But it’s with precious stones I’m going to begin. I have some- thing here, and I want you to tell me what you think of it.” ‘‘Are you a dealer, Adair?” “Tam not; but it so happens that certain articles have come into my hands. I should like an expert opinion on their value.” “Expert opinions can always be got; why come to me?” ‘“‘Because of what Mr. Abraham told me and because of other reasons which I may touch on presently. I think you’ll under- stand why I’ve come to you before I’ve done. Look at that.” Mr. Adair took a small leather case out of his waistcoat pocket, opened it and handed it across the table. Mr. Harper looked at it. Something happened to his face which suggested that what he saw sur- prised him; but the something was gone in an instant—his face was as expressionless as before. He was so long examining what Adair had handed him that that gentleman, as if impatient of his continued silence, asked a question, leaning over the table as he did so. “What do you think of it?” Mr. Harper was still silent for some sec- onds, then, looking up, he met the other’s eyes—and still for a moment or two he said nothing. Then he observed so gently that it was almost like a whisper— ‘‘Adair, I’m beginning to think that I ought to have made inquiries about you.” Adair smiled. “You would not have learned very much.” “Ts that so? All I can say is that I don’t quite grasp the situation. You casually take a little box out of your pocket; you hand it to me—it contains one of the world’s most famous diamonds, and you ask me what I think of it.” “Tt is a diamond?” comicloool< C@