“Very beautiful things,” murmured Mannering. “The rose-tinted queen pearls in the centre and the famous Rosa graduation. Quite the most famous pearls in America, weren’t they?”
“Ye-esss,” murmured Lee again.
“And there is a certain collector,” said Mannering, with a widening smile, “who would be willing to pay good money for them; within reason, of course. Working on the hypothesis that the Rosa pearls were in the market, how much would you think they were worth, Mr Lee ?”
The Jew was rubbing his thumb across the bridge of his nose, and the expression in his eyes was remarkably cunning.
“Veil,” he said smoothly, “vorking on that strange hypothesis, my tear Mr Mannering, I might say — twenty thousand pounds.”
Mannering’s lips twitched at the corners.
“And now carry the hypothesis a little further. Supposing they were available in London as
Septimus Lee spread his blue-veined hands across his desk, and peered into Mannering’s laughing eyes. He was on his guard, Mannering knew: their swords were crossed.
“Vell — should ve say fifteen thousand ?”
“A little high,” said Mannering judicially. “If I — of course I’m no expert in pearls, Mr Lee — but if I were to estimate a figure for the Rosa pearls in those circumstances I shouldn’t go a pound higher than twelve thousand five hundred.”
“No?”
“Not a pound.”
Lee took his hands from his desk, and rubbed them together with a faint sliding noise. His eyes were half closed.
“Perhaps twelve thousand five hundred, Mr Mannering,
“Come,” said Mannering cheerfully, “I’m assuming that only two people would know anything about the sale — the two principals. Would that figure be — er — acceptable, do you think?”
For a moment there was no sound nor movement in the room. Then Lee bent forward, with a little exclamation.
“Just how much do you know, Mr Mannering?”
“Just as much as I seem to,” said Mannering. The smile was still on his lips, but it had gone from his eyes. “You have the Rosas, Mr Lee. No one besides yourself and one other knows they are in England.”
“Two others,” said Lee thoughtfully. “My colleague — and yourself.”
Mannering nodded, and the laughter came back to his eyes; he had made his final thrust and scored well.
“Yes, of course. But I didn’t
“It is an idea,” admitted Lee.
“H’m. Well, I was one of many who were prepared to purchase the Rosa pearls from the Randenbergs, and one of many who were disappointed when they were stolen. A friend of mine in America whispered — just whispered, Mr Lee — that sometimes you were in possession of gems which had — er — left the United States, and I put two and two together.”
“Because you were still interested in them?”
“Precisely.”
“Vell,” said the Jew slowly, “I vill not ask questions, Mr Mannering, although it would seem that you have strange friends. Just the one question I would ask. You are acquainted with the police?”
Mannering’s expression did not change.
“I am a collector of precious stones, Mr Lee.”
The Jew seemed to think for a moment. His eyes closed and his fingers intertwined slowly, tenuously. At last: “This twelve thousand five hundred pounds, Mr Mannering. The transaction would be cash, of course?”
“My cheque is as good as cash,” said Mannering.
“Ye-es, of course. But in transactions of this kind . . .”
“Mr Lee,” said Mannering gently, “I have every respect for you and your methods, but I would not bring twelve thousand pounds in cash into your office or your home for any purpose whatsoever. I heard a rumour that you have the pearls. Others might hear it too. My cheque against the Rosas.”
Again Lee seemed to lose himself in his thoughts, and there was silence for several minutes. He came out of his reverie, and nodded. Quick decisions, he knew, were essential.
“Shall we consider the matter settled ?”
“Time and place?” asked Mannering.
“These offices, Mr Mannering, to-morrow, at twelve noon.”
“To-morrow is all right,” said Mannering, “but twelve is too late. Ten o’clock . . .”
“Must it be so early?” Lee questioned.
