The Datchet Diamonds

o the lady of his love, not to speak of that lady's friend. Before he had met Miss Strong he had been, comparatively, free--free, that is, to return the diamonds to their rightful owner. N

fool I'v

. He told himself, frankly, and with cutting scorn, what a fool he had been, and then proceeded to take what, under similar circumstances, seems to be a commonly accepted view of the situation--assuring, or endeavouring to

consuming the fluid and abusing Fate, some one touched him on the shoulder. Looking round he found himself confronted by Mr. Lawrence and his friend the German-American. Not only wa

ning, Mr.

uietude seemed to convey a threat. And Mr. Lawrence kept those beautiful blue eyes of his fixed on Mr. Paxton's visage with a sustained persist

ntly that he was in a very delicate situation, and one on which, curiously enough, he had not reckoned. But if Mr. Lawrence and his friend supposed that Mr. Paxton, e

t up at the station you asked me to have a drink

n an instinctive dislike. There was about the fellow a suggestion of something animal--of something almost eerie. He did not strike one as being a person with whom it

pping outside for a

ide?

bly feigned. It might be that he was a b

g which I rather w

? What

you don't mind, sp

k against the bar facing

h in here? What is it yo

have to say to you. If you take

t so, had in it the suggestion of a scratch. A gleam came into his eyes which

nged half a dozen words with you. What communication of a private nature you may have to make

close to him but also to those who were at a little distance. Especially did the high words seem audible to a shabby-looking fellow who was seated at a li

ve been of English manufacture, for not only was it a size or two too large for him, but, relatively, it was almost as long as his overcoat. Thus, since his hat came over his forehead, and his overcoat came up to his chin, not much of his physiognomy was visible, and what was visible was not of a kind to make one long for more. His complexion was of a dirty red. His cheekbones were high, and his cheeks were hollow. They were covered with tiny bristles, which gleamed in the light as he moved his head. His eyes were small, and black, and beady, and he had a trick

capped by what rather resembled a talon than a human fingernail, and crooked it in M

st one question--just one little question. Mr. Paxt

looking at what bore a stronger resemblance to some legen

understan

-a very simple one indeed. I ask you, what

bag!--which

you brought with you in

is countenance, an entire absence of any sort

a friend

e colour of

Datchet Diam

then back at Mr. Paxton, then again at each other

cult indeed, eh? He understand nothing. It is

ence int

gh, even for you, Mr. Paxton.

an who half concealed them with his hat, and, unless he was mistaken, the eyes of another shabby individual who was seated at a second table, between himself and the door. Indeed, he had a

ag! I! What the d

ave you got my

of menace came on to his face and into

e I understand too much. Your question is such a singular one that I mu

Lawrence read in his, for Mr. Paxton perceived quite clearly that, in spite of the man's seeming gentleness, on the little voya

the Gladstone bag, and seen that a little

ly saw might turn out to be something worse than an Old Man of the Sea upon his shoulders. But he deliberately declined to avail himself o

rectly I got in. I've no more idea of what you tw

nged glances, and again Mr.

sking, and I should therefore feel obliged

ated--he took his seco

initials on one side--stuck pretty well all o

have penetrated to his inmost soul. This time, however, Mr. Paxton's own eyes never wavered. He returned

at yours was not

ck; and, as for being new--well, it w

nd my having

ant to have a

it a favour if yo

shoul

glances met. The G

u stopping, M

eated the inquirer to anythin

e to whom I would rather remain a stranger--you appear to take a degree

mpertinent, oh, dear no;

his attention to Mr. Lawrence; it was a peculiarity of that gentleman's bearing that since his appearance o

giving me any sort of explanation; now perhaps you won'

I have lost it. I am pa

red, as if not

longer than you appear to anticipat

which I should n

ase it, did the pa

at the Central Station-

ntly incisive speaker as if he would have liked to have knocked him down; possibly, too, came very near to trying to do it. Then s

the last. I do not wish to have a scene in a public place, but if you address me aga

substantial weapon as tall-talk. His surprise was, therefore, the greater when, the words being scarcely out of his mouth, the German-American, touching his associate on the arm, made to him some sort of a sign, and without another word the two marched off together. Somewhat oddly, as it seemed, when they went

imself on the apparent eff

m of the sort that's easily bluffed, but the odds were

himself how long it would be advisable for him to stop before taking his departure; he had no desire to find the enterprising associates waiting for him in the street. While he meditated some o

ning, Mr.

proved to be a rather short and thick-set man, with a stubbly grey beard and whiskers, and a pair of shrewd, brown eyes. Mr. Paxton beheld him

sort of fellow to st

start

angels, he's easily star

was that you were t

he stranger a keen,

do you

somebody as I came in?--

fore, and I never want to meet again. The othe

er--what's

. Do you

e second hurried, almost anxious look

know any one of the name of La

byways of great cities, Mr. Paxton had a very miscellaneous acquaintance. Among them were not a few officers of police. He had rather prided himself on this fact--as men of his sort are apt to do. But now he almost wished that he had never been conscious that such a thing as a policeman existed in the world; for there--at the moment

kidney were pretty sure to know a man of Mr. Ireland's reputation, at any rate by sight. The "office" had been given him that a "tec." was in the neighbourhood, and Mr. Lawrence had taken himself away just in time, as he hop

oo late--return her diamonds to the sorrowing Duchess, and make an end of his wild dreams of fortune? No; that he would--he could not do. At least not yet. He had committed himself to Daisy, to Miss Wentworth. There was plenty of time. He could, if he chose, play the part of harlequin,

of the Duchess of

a kind which made it extremely difficult for him to retain even a vestige of self-control. Fortunately, perhaps, Mr. Ireland appeared to be unconscious of his ag

tchet's diamonds?

't you

ght be just as well not to feign too muc

out it as I came

u had. Came d

st for t

ame train with

er fanc

xt compartment to

ed to be entirely occupied in the contents of his glass, but for som

t. I noticed him on the plat

his fr

ther man wa

nt-room with them, didn'

aker; Mr. Ireland seemed, as it were, t

ou seem to have kept a ke

train too; you didn't

--that he had. He admitted that the detective had gone u

ink that I know wher

omebody else's Gladstone bag, he had been one mass of nerves, and of exposed nerves, too. Like some substance which is in the heart of a thunderstorm, and which is peculiarly sensitive to the propinquity of electricity, he had been receiving a continual succession of shocks. When Mr. Ireland said in that unexpec

ou know where tho

d

of the law went on. Mr. Paxton wis

ouldn't mind making a bet that they're

e, nor a kind of chance he relished. "Thanks; but it's a thing about which

rd is on the

en his finger and thumb, and all his faculties seemed to be engaged in making an exhaustive examinati

mself. The chap who has them will have to sell them to a fence. That fence will give him no more for them than if they were the commonest trumpery. And for this very good reason--the fence will either have to lock them up, and bequeath them to his great-grandson, on the offchance of his having face enough to put them on the market; or else he will have to break them up and offer them to the trade as if they were the o

tective had ceased. He took another drink; it might ha

would be a l

his gentleman in front of him--which I think he will!--he'll make it as hot for him as

n raised his gl

on't, Mr. Ireland,

I should have thought that I knew his face, and yet I don't think that I ever knew any one of that name. By the way, I fancy that you once told me that you didn't mind having a

s Mr. Paxton looked th

d be on for the deal! Onl