Part 40 (2/2)

”There is the weapon,” Peter Ruff said, ”which it was easy enough to fire from here upon the man who was leaning forward exactly below. Then here, you will see, is a somewhat peculiar instrument, which shows a great deal of ingenuity in its details.”

He opened the linen case, which was, by the bye, secured by a padlock, and drew out what was, to all appearance, an ordinary fis.h.i.+ng-rod, fitted at the end with something that looked like an iron hand. Peter Ruff dropped it through the hole until it reached the table, moved it backwards and forwards, and turned round with a smile.

”You see,” he said, ”the theft, after all, was very simple. Personally, I must admit that it took me a great deal by surprise, but my friend Mr.

Dory has been on the right track from the first. I congratulate him most heartily.”

Dory was a little overcome. Lady Mary shook him heartily by the hand, but as they trooped downstairs she stooped and whispered in Peter Ruff's ear.

”I wonder how much of this was John Dory,” she said, smiling.

Peter Ruff said nothing. The detective was already on the telephone, wiring his report to London. Every one was standing about in little knots, discussing this wonderful event. Sogrange sought Lord Clenarvon, and walked with him, arm in arm, down the stairs.

”I cannot tell you, Clenarvon,” he said, ”how sorry I am that I should have been the means of introducing a person like this to the house. I had the most excellent references from the Prince of Strelitz. No doubt they were forged. My own man was taken ill just before I left, and I had to bring some one.”

”My dear Sogrange,” Lord Clenarvon said, ”don't think of it. What we must be thankful for is that we had so brilliant a detective in the house.”

”As John Dory?” Sogrange remarked, with a smile. Lord Clenarvon nodded.

”Come,” he said, ”I don't see why we should lose a day's sport because the diamonds have been recovered. I always felt that they would turn up again some day or other. You are keen, I know, Sogrange.”

”Rather!” the Marquis answered. ”But excuse me for one moment. There is Mrs. Ruff looking charming there in the corner. I must have just a word with her.”

He crossed the room and bowed before Violet.

”My dear lady,” he said, ”I have come to congratulate you. You have a clever husband--a little cleverer, even, than I thought. I have just had the misfortune to lose to him a bet of twenty-five thousand francs.”

Violet smiled, a little uneasily.

”Peter doesn't gamble as a rule,” she remarked.

Sogrange sighed.

”This, alas, was no gamble!” he said. ”He was betting upon certainties, but he won. Will you tell him from me, when you see him, that although I have not the money in my pocket at the moment, I shall pay my debts.

Tell him that we are as careful to do that in France as we are to keep our word!”

He bowed, and pa.s.sed out with the shooting-party on to the terrace.

Peter Ruff came up, a few minutes later, and his wife gave him the message.

”I did that man an injustice,” Peter Ruff said with a sigh of relief. ”I can't explain now, dear. I'll tell you all about it later in the day.”

”There's nothing wrong, is there?” she asked him, pleadingly.

”On the contrary,” Peter Ruff declared, ”everything is right. I have made friends with Dory, and I have won a thousand pounds. When we leave here, I am going to look out for that little estate in the country.

If you come out with the lunch, dear, I want you to watch that man Hamilton's coat. It's exactly what I should like to wear myself at my own shooting parties. See if you can make a sketch of it when he isn't looking.”

Violet laughed.

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