The Duchess of Wiltshires Diamonds | Page 9

will resound with
the hubbub, and I have been making my plans in such a way as to
arrange that Klimo shall be the first person consulted. When the
messenger calls, if call he does, see that the old woman next door bids
him tell the Duke to come personally at twelve o'clock. Do you
understand?"
"Perfectly, sir."
"Very good. Now give me the jewel case, and let me be on. You need
not sit up for me."
Precisely as the clocks in the neighbourhood were striking ten Simon
Carne reached Belgrave Square, and, as he hoped, found himself the
first guest.
His hostess and her husband received him in the ante-room of the
drawing-room.
"I come laden with a thousand apologies," he said as he took Her
Grace's hand, and bent over it with that ceremonious politeness which
was one of the man's chief characteristics. "I am most unconscionably
early, I know, but I hastened here in order that I might personally return
the jewel case you so kindly lent me. I must trust to your generosity to
forgive me. The drawings took longer than I expected."

"Please do not apologise," answered Her Grace. "It is very kind of you
to have brought the case yourself. I hope the illustrations have proved
successful. I shall look forward to seeing them as soon as they are
ready. But I am keeping you holding the box. One of my servants will
take it to my room."
She called a footman to her and bade him take the box and place it
upon her dressing-table.
"Before it goes I must let you see that I have not damaged it either
externally or internally," said Carne with a laugh. "It is such a valuable
case that I should never forgive myself if it had even received a scratch
during the time it has been in my possession."
So saying he lifted the lid and allowed her to look inside. To all
appearance it was exactly the same as when she had lent it to him
earlier in the day.
"You have been most careful," she said. And then, with an air of banter,
she continued: "If you desire it I shall be pleased to give you a
certificate to that effect."
They jested in this fashion for a few moments after the servant's
departure, during which time Carne promised to call upon her the
following morning at eleven o'clock, and to bring with him the
illustrations he had made and a queer little piece of china he had had
the good fortune to pick up in a dealer's shop the previous afternoon.
By this time fashionable London was making its way up the grand
staircase, and with its appearance further conversation became
impossible.
Shortly after midnight Carne bade his hostess good night and slipped
away. He was perfectly satisfied with his evening's entertainment, and
if the key of the jewel case were not turned before the jewels were
placed in it, he was convinced they would become his property. It
speaks well for his strength of nerve when I record the fact that on
going to bed his slumbers were as peaceful and untroubled as those of a
little child.

Breakfast was scarcely over next morning before a hansom drew up at
his front door and Lord Amberley alighted. He was ushered into
Carne's presence forthwith, and on seeing that the latter was surprised
at his early visit, hastened to explain.
"My dear fellow," he said as he took possession of the chair the other
offered him, "I have come round to see you on most important business.
As I told you last night at the dance, when you so kindly asked me to
come and see the steam yacht you have purchased, I had an
appointment with Wiltshire at half-past nine this morning. On reaching
Belgrave Square, I found the whole house in confusion. Servants were
running hither and thither with scared faces, the butler was on the
borders of lunacy, the Duchess was well-nigh hysterical in her boudoir,
while her husband was in his study vowing vengeance against all the
world."
"You alarm me," said Carne, lighting a cigarette with a hand that was
as steady as a rock. "What on earth has happened?"
"I think I might safely allow you fifty guesses and then wager a
hundred pounds you'd not hit the mark; and yet in a certain measure it
concerns you."
"Concerns me? Good gracious. What have I done to bring all this
about?'
"Pray do not look so alarmed," said Amberley. "Personally you have
done nothing. Indeed, on second thoughts, I don't know that I am right
in saying that it concerns you at all. The fact of the matter is, Carne, a
burglary took place last night at Wiltshire