THI

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“1 PROCEEDED TO ENAMINE TIHE

that the brasswork of onc lock at Icast had been constderably filed,

• Now, answer mce this, Mr. Ashburton,”

I remarked. * Have you the faintest idea when and where that lock could have been tampered with 2"

“T have not,” he exclaimed with strong cmphasis. “On my soul, I have not,” he added, with a fervency that I felt sure could not have been assumed.

I rcturned to Lord cxclaimed 1!]1])’1L1L1‘1t1\-—-

“CWell what's the result now, Donovan 2’

‘Do you give me carte blanche 1o act as I like in Lhi% matter 27

“I do,” he answered.

“Good : ; then I shall proceed to Colombo at once.”

His lordship seemed to think that such a step was unnecessary ; but I told him that 1L was my custom alw a\b to begin at the fountain-head in such cascs. And in this particular onc 1t was of the highest im- portance to cndcavour, by cvery possible means, to determine whether hg robbery had bum cflected 1n transit, or before the box containing the stone was removed from

Middlewick, who

FRUNK WITH THE AID OF A FOWERFUL GLASS,

STRAND VM AGAZINE,

Colombo. As he came t. the whole matter from n, point of view, he offered no further argument against the course I proposed, and within two days from that time I was travelling express to Brindisi, to catch the outward-bound P.and O. stcamer for the Fast.

No mnews had reached Colombo of the loss of the stone when I arrived there, and I had kept my mission A sceret from everyone. My hrst step was to seck an inter- view with Mr. Jecheboy, a scdate, dignified Indian gen- tleman, who received me with the most business-like cour- tesy ; and I at once began to study him, but saw nothing in his manner or style that sug- gested in the slightest (lcfllcp the likelihood of his bunff a party to the theft. After a fow preliminary remarks, I said—

‘You have recently sold a very fine specimen of a cat's- cyc to Lord Middlewick, I understand ?

“I have,” he answered ; “and I believe it to be one of the finest stones of its kind the world has cver produced.”

“You saw 1t packed, and delivered into the sale keeping of his lordship's agent, did you not 7"

“Undoubtedly T did,” he exclaimed, as his countenance hghted up with a look of anxious mterest.

“You have no manner of doubt in your own mind that the stonc was in the box when the box was sceured and sealed by you 7"

The question caused Mr. Jecheboy to start visibly, and, though it could not be said that his dusky tace grew pale, there were indications in-it that clearly betrayed how agitated he was. His dark eyes peered imto mine, and for somce moments he re- mained silent, as though somewhat at a loss how toanswer me. But at last he suid—

“Sir, your question alarms me, for i seems Lo suggest that something is WIOIlg [ will answer you, however, to the pomt at once. Tam as certain that the cat's- -eye was m the box when I sct my seal upon it as [am that [ ama living man, and talking to you!