Part 62 (1/2)

”First of all,” said Mr. Prohack. ”Here is my card, so that we may know where we stand.”

The salesman read the card and was suitably impressed, but his conviction that big business was afoot seemed now to be a little shaken.

”May I venture to hope that the missing necklace has been found, sir?”

said the salesman smoothly. ”We've all been greatly interested in the newspaper story.”

”That is beside the point,” said Mr. Prohack. ”I've come simply to buy a pearl necklace.”

”I beg pardon, sir. Certainly. Will you have the goodness to step this way.”

They were next in a private room off the shop; and the sole items of furniture were three elegant chairs, a table with a gla.s.s top, and a colossal safe. Another salesman entered the room with bows, and keys were produced, and the two salesmen between them swung back the majestic dark green doors of the safe. In another minute various pearl necklaces were lying on the table. The spectacle would have dazzled a connoisseur in pearls; but Mr. Prohack was not a connoisseur; he was not even interested in pearls, and saw on the table naught but a monotonous array of pleasing gewgaws, to his eye differing one from another only in size.

He was, however, actuated by a high moral purpose, which uplifted him and enabled him to listen with dignity to the technical eulogies given by the experts. Eve of course behaved with impeccable correctness, hiding the existence of the wall from everybody except Mr. Prohack, but forcing Mr. Prohack to behold the wall all the time.

When he had reached a state of complete bewilderment regarding the respective merits of the necklaces, Mr. Prohack judged the moment ripe for proceeding to business. With his own hands he clasped a necklace round his wife's neck, and demanded:

”What is the price of this one?”

”Eight hundred and fifty pounds,” answered the princ.i.p.al expert, who seemed to recognise every necklace at sight as a shepherd recognises every sheep in his flock.

”Do you think this would suit you, my dear?” asked Mr. Prohack.

”I think so,” replied Eve politely.

”Well, I'm not so sure,” said Mr. Prohack, reflectively. ”What about this one?” And he picked up and tried upon Eve another and a larger necklace.

”That,” said the original expert, ”is two thousand four hundred guineas.”

”It seems cheap,” said Mr. Prohack carelessly. ”But there's something about the gradation that I don't quite like. What about this one?”

Eve opened her mouth, as if about to speak, but she did not speak. The wall, which had trembled for a few seconds, regained its monumental solidity.

”Five thousand guineas,” said the expert of the third necklace.

”Hm!” commented Mr. Prohack, removing the gewgaw. ”Yes. Not so bad. And yet--”

”That necklace,” the expert announced with a mien from which all deference had vanished, ”is one of the most perfect we have. The pearls have, if I may so express it, a h.o.m.ogeneity not often arrived at in any necklace. They are not very large of course--”

”Quite so,” Mr. Prohack stopped him, selecting a fourth necklace.

”Yes,” the expert admitted, his deference returning. ”That one is undoubtedly superior. Let me see, we have not yet exactly valued it, but I think we could put it in at ten thousand guineas--perhaps pounds. I should have to consult one of the partners.”

”It is scarcely,” said Mr. Prohack, surveying the trinket judicially on his wife's neck, ”scarcely the necklace of my dreams,--not that I would say a word against it.... Ah!” And he pounced suddenly, with an air of delighted surprise, upon a fifth necklace, the queen of necklaces.

”My dear, try this one. Try this one. I didn't notice it before. Somehow it takes my fancy, and as I shall obviously see much more of your necklace than you will, I should like my taste to be consulted.”

As he fastened the catch of the thing upon Eve's delicious nape, he could feel that she was trembling. He surveyed the dazzling string. She also surveyed it, fascinated, spellbound. Even Mr. Prohack began to perceive that the reputation and value of fine pearls might perhaps be not entirely unmerited in the world.

”Sixteen thousand five hundred,” said the expert.

”Pounds or guineas?” Mr. Prohack blandly enquired.