Part 35 (1/2)

”Sit down--take a drink,” he said. ”This is a queer meeting! We haven't seen each other since--”

”Good G.o.d, man!” broke in Purdie, staring at his host. ”What's it all mean? Are you--disguised?”

Levendale laughed--ruefully--and glanced at the mean garments which Mrs. Goldmark had spoken of.

”Necessity!” he said. ”Had to! Ah!--I've been through some queer times--and in queer places. Look here--what do you know?”

”Know!” cried Purdie. ”You want me to tell you all I know--in a sentence? Man!--it would take a month! What do you know? That's more like it!”

Levendale pa.s.sed a hand across his forehead--there was a weariness in his gesture which showed his visitor that he was dead beat.

”Aye, just so!” he said. ”But--tell me! has John Purvis come looking for his brother?”

”He has!” answered Purdie. ”He's in London just now.”

”Has he told about that diamond?--told the police?” demanded Levendale.

”He has!” repeated Purdie. ”That's all known. Stephen Purvis--where is he?”

”Upstairs--asleep--dead tired out,” said Levendale. ”We both are! Night and day--day and night--I could fall on this floor and sleep--”

”You've been after that diamond?” suggested Purdie.

”That--and something else,” said Levendale.

”Something else?” asked Purdie. ”What then?”

”Eighty thousand pounds,” answered Levendale. ”Just that!”

Purdie stood staring at him. Then he suddenly put a question.

”Do you know who murdered that old man in Praed Street?” he demanded.

”That's what I'm after.”

”No!” said Levendale, promptly. ”I don't even know that he was murdered!” He, too, stared at his visitor for a moment; then ”But I know more than a little about his being robbed,” he added significantly.

Purdie shook his head. He was puzzled and mystified beyond measure.

”This is getting too deep for me!” he said. ”You're the biggest mystery of all, Levendale. Look here!” he went on. ”What are you going to do?

This queer disappearance of yours--this being away--coming back without your beard and dressed like that!--aren't you going to explain? The police--”

”Yes!” said Levendale. ”Ten o'clock this morning--the police-station.

Be there--all of you--anybody--anybody who likes--I'm going to tell the police all I know. Purvis and I, we can't do any more--baffled, you understand! But now--go away, Purdie, and let me sleep--I'm dead done for!”

Within ten minutes of leaving them, Purdie was back with Lauriston and Melky Rubinstein, and motioning them away from Suss.e.x Square.

”That's more extraordinary than the rest!” he said, as they all moved off. ”Levendale's there, in his own house, right enough! And he's shaved off his beard and mustache, and he's wearing tramp's clothes and he and Stephen Purvis have been looking night and day, for that confounded diamond, and for eighty thousand pounds! And--what's more, Levendale does not know who killed Daniel Multenius or that he was murdered! But, by George, sirs!” he added, as high above their heads the clock of St. James's Church struck one, ”he knows something big!--and we've got to wait nine hours to hear it!”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE