the ruler's wife, Vasilikee, as well. They had to be in it together. Note our client's first name—Vasil, in memory of his grandmother. The conspirators secreted the diamond in the Golden Bird and gave out the word of its destruction. They planned to secure the statue later and retrieve the prize within, but the Bird eluded them. Somehow the story got out, for Jonathan Wild heard of it. Through him, Harry Hawker, as well. Since 1822, the Golden Bird has had a value far in excess of its original worth. It has been a loadstone, a magnet for all who knew its secret. Barker left us the clues, ol' chap. First the year—1822. Then, recall that in the book on Jonathan Wild's career, Barker ran a line through the reference to the Pasha of Egypt diamond. I mistook it as underlining, but he meant that the mention of this famous gem was incorrect.'
'How did Chu San Fu learn the secret of the diamond?'
'We may never know the answer to that. But observe that Basil Selkirk seized on the clue I gave him, the year of Ali Pasha's death and solved the mystery.'
Holmes's recreation of events covering more than half a century was interrupted by Billy, who informed us that an Oriental gentleman requested a few moments of Mr. Holmes time.
My friend cocked an eye in my direction. 'My letter to Chu San Fu has prompted a rapid response. Show the man up, Billy, by all means.'
When the page boy ushered a squat Chinaman into our chambers, my manner was frigid indeed. Nor was my friend a model of hospitality.
'Ah, Mr. Holmes—my name is Loo Chang. I am a solicitor.'
He passed the sleuth a business card, which Holmes dropped on the desk without looking at it. Chang bowed in my direction. He was quite short and somewhat overweight, which may have contributed to the perpetual sheen on his face. His mouth was drawn in a constant smile and I wondered, for no particular reason, if it was present when he slept.
'I am here, Mr. Holmes, representing a client.'
'We can,' said Holmes severely, 'dispense with evasions. You have been instructed by Chu San Fu to contact me relative to a certain piece of property, which he is interested in.'
The Oriental's hands were spread, palms up, as though to indicate that he carried no weapons. 'I do not know the object involved but I am empowered to negotiate a fee for its recovery. My client is a most generous man and will pay one thousand pounds for its return.'
Holmes sighed as though his patience was being sorely tried. 'You client's generosity is imaginary. Ten percent is a standard fee for lesser talents than mine. The price is fifteen thousand pounds based on the last valuation of the object. The thousand pounds you mention is to be paid in advance to cover possible expenses.'
Chang looked shocked. 'My client did not anticipate . . .'
He was allowed to go no further. 'I do not haggle in matters of this kind.' Holmes's right hand indicated the door. 'Begone!'
'But, Mr. Holmes.'
'Out!'
The sheen on Chang's face was more evident. He fumbled in his coat pocket, extracting a bulky envelope, 'I will leave this thousand pounds as a retainer, Mr. Holmes. If my client agrees to your terms, he will notify you.'
Placing the envelope on the desk, Chang backed toward the door with short, rapid bows to Holmes and myself.
'I bid you good day, gentlemen.'
'One moment,' commanded Holmes, and Chang halted by the door. 'When your client agrees in this arrangement, instruct him to return to me the statue. When he does so, six members of his organization will reappear.'
'The statue will be in your hands within the hour,' the lawyer said, with a defeated air and then departed in haste.
The solicitor departed in haste.
'Holmes,' I said, as soon as the man was gone, 'you don't intend to give the Pigott Diamond to Chu San Fu.'
'I intend to break him,' was Holmes's grim response.
He crossed to the window with rapid strides, peering through the drapes. What he saw seemed to give him satisfaction for he gave vent to a chuckle.
'Loo Chang is departing with Slippery Styles, the human shadow, on his trail. Sooner or later the solicitor will return to his office. 'Tis then that Slim Gilligan will enter the picture.'
Noting my blank look, Holmes continued. 'Both Alex MacDonald and Wakefield Orloff are very interested in the names, locations and income derived from Chu San Fu's various enterprises. The Chinaman is very businesslike and organized and there should be more revealing information in the files of his lawyer.'
I did not question this matter, realizing that Holmes was taking full advantage of his unofficial status and following a line of investigation not open to the authorities.
Holmes reverted to the matter of the diamond.
'By now, Chu must realize that Basil Selkirk has the stone. Rather than have him attack Selkirk's residence or involve himself in some similar skullduggery, it is best to let him think I'll secure the diamond. Besides, with Vasil D'Anglas arriving tomorrow from Berlin, I need the statue. That was our original commission, if you recall.'
'But D'Anglas will expect the diamond to be in the statue. He, of all people, knows the secret of the Golden Bird.'
'We have a touchy point there, Watson. The last legal owner of the gem died sixty years ago. Who does own it?'
'Streeter was definite on that point. The possesser in this case, Selkirk, is the owner.'
'But we know something that the crown jeweler did not. My theory is that D'Anglas's grandfather secreted the stone and married Vasilikee, Ali Pasha's wife. Theoretically, Vasilikee owned the stone upon the death of her husband, the Lion of Janina. Which makes our client, Vasil D'Anglas, the man with the best claim on the gem.'
'We are stretching things a bit, are we not?'
'My blushes, Watson. The fact is that I was commissioned to secure the Golden Bird at the time when the diamond was still concealed within it. Therefore, I intend to honor the interests of our first client, Vasil D'Anglas.'
'But how do you hope to get the diamond from Basil Selkirk?'
'I really don't know,' said Holmes, to my surprise. 'That could well be a two-pipe problem, at least.'
As it happened, I was never to learn what plans Holmes made to separate the eccentric millionaire from the Pigott Diamond, for the following morning we received startling news indeed.
20
The Deadman's Code
217
Holmes and I had just disposed of a fullsome breakfast when there was a light tap on our door.
'Come in, Billy,' said Holmes. He had the uncanny ability to hear and identify any footfalls on the seventeen steps leading to our first-floor chambers.
The page boy entered with an envelope in his hand, which he gave to Holmes.
'This 'ere just arrived, sir, by special messenger. 'E's waitin' downstairs in case there is a response.'
Holmes tore open the envelope eagerly. It contained a letter in longhand and an additional sheet of stationery, which I noted was machine-written. This was what Holmes glanced at first and his lips pursed in a soundless whistle. He passed the typed sheet to me and began to read the rest of the communique.
The typewritten message was terse and shocking.
Basil Selkirk died in his sleep last night. The enclosed is being rushed to you to comply with specific instructions given to me by the deceased. I am further instructed to cooperate with you to any extent you may require. Please advise if I can be of assistance.
Cedric Falmouth,
