The Duchess of Wiltshires Diamonds | Page 7

eye as if it were empty. Is it possible for thee to do such a thing?"
Wajib Baksh did not reply for a few moments. His instinct told him what his master wanted, and he was not disposed to answer hastily, for he also saw that his reputation as the most cunning craftsman in India was at stake.
"If the Heaven-born will permit me the night for thought," he said at last, "I will come to him when he rises from his bed and tell him what I can do, and he can then give his orders as it pleases him."
"Very good," said Carne. "Then tomorrow morning I shall expect thy report. Let the work be good and there will be many rupees for thee to touch in return. As to the lock and the way it shall act, let that be the concern of Hiram Singh."
Wajib Baksh salaamed and withdrew, and Simon Carne for the time being dismissed the matter from his mind.
Next morning, while he was dressing, Belton reported that the two artificers desired an interview with him. He ordered them to be admitted, and forthwith they entered the room. It was noticeable that Wajib Baksh carried in his hand a heavy box, which, upon Carne's motioning him to do so, he placed upon the table.
"Have ye thought over the matter?" he asked, seeing that the men waited for him to speak.
"We have thought of it," replied Hiram Singh, who always acted as spokesman for the pair. "If the Presence will deign to look he will see that we have made a box of the size and shape such as he drew upon the paper."
"Yes, it is certainly a good copy," said Carne condescendingly, after he had examined it.
Wajib Baksh showed his white teeth in appreciation of the compliment, and Hiram Singh drew closer to the table.
"And now, if the Sahib will open it, he will in his wisdom be able to tell if it resembles the other that he has in his mind."
Carne opened the box as requested, and discovered that the interior was an exact counterfeit of the Duchess of Wiltshire's jewel case, even to the extent of the quilted leather lining which had been the other's principal feature. He admitted that the likeness was all that could be desired.
"As he is satisfied," said Hiram Singh, "it may be that the Protector of the Poor will deign to try an experiment with it. See, here is a comb. Let it be placed in the box, so--now he will see what he will see."
The broad, silver-backed comb, lying upon his dressing-table, was placed on the bottom of the box, the lid was closed, and the key turned in the lock. The case being securely fastened, Hiram Singh laid it before his master.
"I am to open it, I suppose?" said Carne, taking the key and replacing it in the lock.
"If my master pleases," replied the other.
Carne accordingly turned it in the lock, and, having done so, raised the lid and looked inside. His astonishment was complete. To all intents and purposes the box was empty. The comb was not to be seen, and yet the quilted sides and bottom were, to all appearances, just the same as when he had first looked inside.
"This is most wonderful," he said. And indeed it was as clever a conjuring trick as any he had ever seen.
"Nay, it is very simple," Wajib Baksh replied. "The Heaven-born told me that there must be no risk of detection."
He took the box in his own hands and, running his nails down the centre of the quilting, dividing the false bottom into two pieces; these he lifted out, revealing the comb lying upon the real bottom beneath.
"The sides, as my lord will see," said Hiram Singh, taking a step forward, "are held in their appointed places by these two springs. Thus, when the key is turned the springs relax, and the sides are driven by others into their places on the bottom, where the seams in the quilting mask the join. There is but one disadvantage. It is as follows: When the pieces which form the bottom are lifted out in order that my lord may get at whatever lies concealed beneath, the springs must of necessity stand revealed. However, to anyone who knows sufficient of the working of the box to lift out the false bottom, it will be an easy matter to withdraw the springs and conceal them about his person."
"As you say that is an easy matter," said Carne, "and I shall not be likely to forget. Now one other question. Presuming I am in a position to put the real box into your hands for say eight hours, do you think that in that time you can fit it up so that detection will