Part 2 (1/2)

When Richard Duvall and his companion entered the house of the French Amba.s.sador in London, it was evident that their arrival was expected.

The detective had no more than given his name to the butler who threw open the door, when the latter, with a bow of recognition, conducted them to a small reception-room to the right of the entrance, and informed them that Monsieur de Grissac would see them at once.

They did not have long to wait. The Amba.s.sador, a thin, spare, nervous-looking man of sixty, with white hair and a gray-white mustache, came hurriedly into the room after but a few moments had elapsed, and greeting them excitedly, bade them be seated. He himself remained standing, his back to the fireplace, twirling his eyegla.s.ses at the end of their black silk ribbon, and observing his visitors keenly.

”Monsieur Lefevre had informed me of your coming, gentlemen,” he presently burst out. ”We have no time to lose.”

”Let us have the details of the affair, monsieur,” Duvall remarked, seating himself comfortably in his chair. ”So far we are completely in the dark.”

”You know, do you not, that a valuable article, a small snuff box, to be exact--has been stolen from me?”

”Yes. Of that I have been informed,” the detective remarked, dryly. ”I am curious to learn why the loss of an article of so trivial a nature should be regarded with such seriousness.”

The Amba.s.sador's eyes snapped--he seemed almost to resent the detective's att.i.tude. ”It should be sufficient, monsieur, I think, that it is so regarded. The task before us is to recover it--not discuss the reasons for doing so.”

”I disagree with you, monsieur. If the real value of the stolen article is kept from me, how can I draw any conclusions as to the probable object of its theft? Was it intrinsically valuable? Did it contain anything of value? In short, why should any one have taken the trouble to steal it? Tell me that, and I can act intelligently. Otherwise, I shall be only groping about in the dark.”

”I do not think so, monsieur.” The Amba.s.sador bent upon Duvall a searching glance. ”The fact that the box is gone should be sufficient.

All that I ask is that you recover it. You must trace its disappearance from the material facts of the case. Conjecture will avail us nothing.”

”Is the box then of no value?”

”I have not said so. As a matter of fact, its value is great. It has been an heirloom in my family for many years. At one time it belonged to Cardinal Mazarin.”

”You think, then, that its intrinsic value alone might have prompted the theft?”

”I think so--indeed, I very greatly hope so.”

”Why?”

The Amba.s.sador recovered himself with a start. Evidently he had said more than he intended. It was some time before he answered the question and then he did so lamely. ”Its theft by someone interested in its value as a curiosity would enable me to recover it most readily--by the payment, of course, of a sum of money.”

”True. But I a.s.sume, from what you say, that there might be other reasons; that it might have been taken by those who suspected that it had another value?”

For a moment Monsieur de Grissac appeared confused. Then he waved his hand impatiently. ”There are those,” he said, ”who seek to injure me.

They know that I prized this thing highly. Their motive may have been--not money, but revenge. In that case, its recovery will be vastly more difficult.”

Duvall saw that Monsieur de Grissac was not being frank with him, and for a moment he was conscious of a deep sense of annoyance. Monsieur Lefevre had, heretofore, invariably taken him into his confidence. He controlled his feelings, however, and appeared to be satisfied with the Amba.s.sador's explanations. ”What did the box contain, Monsieur de Grissac,” he asked, pleasantly.

”A quant.i.ty of snuff, monsieur.”

”Nothing else?”

”Nothing.”

”Oh! And you, monsieur, are in the habit of using snuff?”

”Yes. It is the only form in which I use tobacco. Old-fas.h.i.+oned, perhaps, but I belong to the older generation.” He straightened himself up suddenly. ”Let us proceed, gentlemen. I fear we are wasting valuable time.”