My Strangest Case

expected! The man had endeavoured to get me out of his way in London, he had played all sorts of tricks upon me in order to put me off the scent, he had bolted from England because he

"I hope you will forgive this early call. I only discovered your address an ho

g so last week," I said. "What has occurred

"I have been thinking the matter over, and not being able to determine the benefit of t

"It will save us both an infinity of trouble. You underst

nd in common fairness to yourself, I ca

why you a

ered. "And in saying this, I pledge you my word that I am by no means overstepping the ma

im I was desirous of convin

hen they were missionar

You must forgive my laughing, but the idea is too ludicrous. I'll admit he's done a considerab

He was quite at his ease, and, though he must have known that I was familia

morning, but I don't think you will be when we have had a little talk togeth

I answered cautiously. "I know that you rob

get them. No! We obtained them honestly enough at a certain place, and I was appointed to carry them. For this reason I secured them in a belt about my waist. That night the Chinese came down upon us and made us prisoners. They murdered our t

face had grown pale at the mere

s took me in and played the part of the good Samaritan. When I was well enough to travel, I made my

"Why under an assumed name when, accordin

ous stones in my possession, and, well, to put it bluntly, up to that time I had been living what you might call a make-shift sort of life

this point, but contin

e, later on you disposed of some more in Amsterdam. W

s quite equal t

now it, and, to be perfectly frank with you, I could not f

ossible to swindle them out of their share?" I

rude, but I rather fancy you would have done the same had you been sim

eve this, but I d

become aware that

om Rangoon, and at last had the doubtful satisfaction of seeing my two old friend

them? Even while yo

he stones that I should not feel sorry for the pain they had

very pretty though

know that they had cal

f old, you see. I watched them go into your office and

at an amount of trouble I should have b

then of my being im

ion, of course, and I began to see that if you took up their

Managing Director of that South American Mining Company? I can now quite understand your mo

ified matters from my point of view if you had. I should not have been compelled to waste my money upon those two r

d been aware of my presence th

that it required all my nerve to pretend that I did not know it. Every moment I expected you to come out and speak to me. I can assure you the

ur actions I must say I admire your candour. I can

u I shall not be offended. We have both our own views on this question, and you of c

who could so calmly own to an attempt to murder a f

n lay his hands upon a quarter of a million of money, to have a gentleman like yourself upon his trail, and, instead of being able to enjoy himself,

id your quarter of a million would not last very lon

dog, and that charming lady will not despoil me of very much! Now to another matter! What amount

ed. "How many of the gem

sixty, which leaves a balance of thirty-three, all of which are better than any I have yet disposed

are to take twenty-five thousand pounds apiece, while you get off,

how it stands. You must know as well as I do that they haven't a leg to stand upon. If I wanted to be nasty, I

y n

and would not improbably lead to a charge of murder being preferred against them. No, Mr. Fairfax, I know my own business, and, what is better, I know theirs. If they like to take fifty

o tell me that yo

"I never was more so. Will you place m

to-day," I said. "But I think I

what they can get now, the time may come when there may be nothing at all. I never was a ver

ring out of Paris within a few hours? I should present a sorry picture if my clients were to

you. With the advantages I at present enjoy, I am naturally most anxious to know that I can move about Europe unmolested. Besides, you can have me watched

he knew about this business. He saw it,

s, let him continue to watch me. You know where I am living, and for that reason you can come and see me whenever you like. As a proof of my sincerity, may I suggest that you give me the pleasure of your company at dinner to-nig

sight? He could scarcely play me any tricks at a fashionable restaurant, and I was certainly curious to study another side of this man'

ents, I suppose," he said. "You may be able to

I answered, after which he bade me good-bye,

. Hayle's readiness of resource, to say nothing of his impudence, is increasing by leaps and bounds. The man is not to be met every day who can

willingly have spared his niece the pain such an exhibition must cause her. I could see no other way out of it, however. The message having been despatched, I settled myself down to wait for a reply, with all the patience I could command. In my own mind I knew very well

will have al

r, however, that he would not know until the evening what Kitwater's decision was, so I felt I had still some time to arrange my plan of action. Of one thing I was quite determined, and that was that he should be watched day and night from that minute, but not by Mr. Dickson. That worthy I

Leglosse's residence. I had the good fortune to meet him by the c

me a favour," I said, when we

i," the old fellow replied. "Tell me how

send my own man back to England, and I am afraid the gentleman we were disc

position, I furnished him with a brief su

at is droll-very droll. It is very good for you that it is at such a place, or I should have my doubts

the

lard, my right-hand. I cannot give you a better. Nothing escapes Pierre, and he is discreet, oh, yes, my friend, he is discreet. He will not obtrude hi

. "I am exceedingly obliged to you for your conside

ties, and within an hour a ragged tatterdemalion of a man was selling matches on

t Hayle had not yet arrived. For a minute I was tempted to wonder whether he had given me the slip agai

As your host I should have been here first. That would have been the case h

, and we entered the

ction; now he was my host, and to all outward appearances my friend as well. I found him a most agreeable companion, a witty conversationalist, and a born raconteur. He seemed to have visited every part of the known globe; had been a sailor, a revolutionist in South America, a

Some day, if I can summon up sufficient courage, I shall fit out an expedition and return to the place whence the stones came, and get some more, but not just at

"and his reply is by n

mean that he will not

ded m

he declares. That is the wordi

is a large one, and will materially affect his inco

replied, and that was

s name was once mentioned. I could not help fancying, however, that the man was considerably disappointed at the non-acceptance of his preposterous offer. He had made a move on the

"The night is still young. What do you say if we pay a visit to a theatre-the Hippodrome,

y illuminated Boulevards. I bestowed little, if any, attention on the direction in which we were proceeding. Indeed, it would have been difficult to have done so for never during the evening had Hayle been so agreeable. A more cha

is about? This is not the way to the Hippodrome! He must have misunder

ight track in a few minutes. He probably thinks if he gives us a longer ride, he will be able to c

ago. The recital lasted some minutes, and all the time we were still pursuing our way in a directio

idiot," I said, "and I a

he had previously addressed me. "I had my own reasons for not telling you before, but

eady arranged?" I asked,

re rather a difficult person to deal with, if I must pay you such a comp

I cried; "but you've let the cat out of the bag

D HE HELD A

t he stopped me. In his hand he held a revolver, the m

can see that I am desperate. My offer to those men was only a bluff. I wanted to quiet any suspicions you might have in order that I might get you into my hands. As you can see for yourself, I could not have succeeded better than I have done. I give

to be gained by a struggle. I don't think I can be accused of cowardice; my reputation is too well known for

s, and I suppose I deserve what I have got for having been such a consummate idiot as to give yo

n the meantime I am glad to see that you take things so sens

ure," I replied, "just at presen

there was the sound of opening gates, and a mo