I am planning to give a dinner party, within the course of the
next few evenings, purposely to introduce them to some of my friends with
whom they are as yet unacquainted; and I am hoping that almost immediately
afterward they will be staying with my sister at her place down in
Suffolk."
"With the Countess of Aynesley?" Mr. Samuelson said slowly.
"Certainly!" I agreed. "I am quite sure my sister will be as charmed with
them as I and many other of my friends are."
Mr. Samuelson rose to his feet, brushed the cigarette ash from his
trousers and took up his hat.
"Mr. Walmsley," he said, holding out his hand, "I am glad I came. You have
treated me frankly and in a most gentlemanly manner. I can assure you I
appreciate it. Not under any circumstances would I allow friends of yours
to be irritated by the indiscriminate inquiries of detectives. The jewels
can go hang, sir!"
He shook hands with me and permitted me to show him out, after which he
marched down the corridor, humming gayly to himself, determined to have me
understand that a trifling loss of two thousand pounds' worth of jewelry
was in reality nothing. I stood for some time with my back to the fire,
smoking thoughtfully. Then the telephone bell rang.
Pages:
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102