Part 32 (1/2)
”And why not, if you please?”
”It's rather a delicate case,” he said--”if you'll pause to consider it.
You must not forget that you yourself broke the law when you contrived to smuggle the necklace into this country. The minute you make this matter public, you lay yourself open to arrest and prosecution for swindling the Government.”
”Swindling!” Alison repeated with a flaming face.
Staff bowed, confirming the word. ”It is a very serious charge these days,” he said soberly. ”I'd advise you to think twice before you make any overt move.”
”But if I deny attempting to smuggle the necklace? If I insist that it was stolen from me aboard the Autocratic--stolen by this Mr. Ismay and this Searle woman--?”
”Miss Searle did not steal your necklace. If she had intended anything of the sort, she wouldn't have telephoned me about it last night.”
”Nevertheless, she has gone away with it, arm-in-arm with a notorious thief, hasn't she?”
”We're not yet positive what she has done. For my part, I am confident she will communicate with us and return the necklace with the least possible delay.”
”Nevertheless, I shall set the police after her!” Alison insisted obstinately.
”Again I advise you--”
”But I shall deny the smuggling, base my charge on--”
”One moment,” Staff interposed firmly. ”You forget me. I'm afraid I can adduce considerable evidence to prove that you not only attempted to smuggle, but as a matter of fact did.”
”And you would do that--to me?” snapped the actress.
”I mean that Miss Searle shall have every chance to prove her innocence,” he returned in an even and unyielding voice.
”Why? What's your interest in her?”
”Simple justice,” he said--and knew his answer to be evasive and unconvincing.
”As a matter of fact,” said Alison, rising in her anger, ”you've fallen in love with the girl!”
Staff held her gaze in silence.
”You're in love with her,” insisted the actress--”in love with this common thief and confidence-woman!”
Staff nodded gently. ”Perhaps,” said he, ”you're right. I hadn't thought of it that way before.... But, if you doubt my motive in advising you to go slow, consult somebody else--somebody you feel you can trust: Max, for instance, or your attorney. Meanwhile, I'd ask Mrs. Ilkington to be discreet, if I were you.”
Saluting them ceremoniously, he turned and left the hotel, deeply dejected, profoundly bewildered and ... wondering whether or not Alison in her rage had uncovered a secret unsuspected even by himself, to whom it should have been most intimate.
XII
WON'T YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOUR?
Slipping quickly into the room through an opening hardly wide enough to admit his spare, small body, the man as quickly shut and locked the door and pocketed the key. This much accomplished, he swung on his heel and, without further movement, fastened his attention anew upon the girl.