Part 8 (2/2)
In an instant Ingleborough's hand came down heavily upon Anson's shoulder and gripped him fast.
”Never mind him, Norton. It's all bluff. He is unarmed.”
”Armed or unarmed,” said the superintendent, ”I'm going to search him,”
and directly after a quick pair of hands were busy going through the suspect's pockets.
”Urrr!” he growled, showing his white teeth between his thick red lips, as he cast off thoroughly the mask of servile humility he had previously worn; ”it's lucky for you that I am unarmed. But search away. Go on.
I'll have heavy damages for this dastardly a.s.sault and defamation of character, and the public shall know all about the games carried on by this beautiful diamond syndicate. Curse you all--masters and men! You shall pay for it, and, as for you, John Ingleborough, look out for yourself. Yes, and you too, Oliver West, you miserable sneak. I always hated you.”
”Hadn't you better save your breath, Anson?” said West quietly. ”You're only making everybody believe you guilty.”
”Let 'em,” cried the suspect, whose plump round face was now distorted with impotent rage. ”I'll be even with all of you for this.”
”Humph! Nothing in his pockets; nothing sewn in the seams of his clothes, nor in the band of his trousers,” muttered the searcher. Then aloud: ”Now then, hold up!”
Anson behaved like a horse, or, as West and Ingleborough afterwards laughingly said, like an a.s.s, lifting to order each foot in turn for the bottoms of his trousers to be examined and the heels of his boots, which had not been bored nor plugged.
”He has nothing upon him, gentlemen,” said the officer, at last.
”But you have not thoroughly searched him,” said one of the directors, frowning.
”Oh yes, sir,” replied the officer; ”a party like this wouldn't carry diamonds about him same as a Kaffir would. He wouldn't play any tricks with his person by slitting or swallowing: he knows too much about the risks. You can be perfectly satisfied that he has nothing about him. I was, as soon as I had turned out his pockets.”
”They'll be satisfied before they've done,” sneered Anson.
”I should like to see his desk and stool in the office where he has worked, gentlemen,” continued the officer.
”Yah!” snarled Anson. ”Yes: go on; search everywhere. Perhaps you'd like to search the place where I lodge?”
”Afterwards,” said the officer quietly.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
ANSON REBOUNDS.
West saw his fellow-clerk wince slightly again, though it pa.s.sed unnoticed by the others, and directly after the whole party adjourned to the office, the superintendent's men following them, and, without doing anything to excite attention, forming a guard at the door.
”There's nothing here,” said the superintendent in a low tone to Ingleborough and West.
”How do you know?” said the former.
”By his manner. He's all brag and bounce!”
”Yes,” said Ingleborough; ”but you don't know your man.”
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