The Rockingham Diamond

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1935, Page 15

The Rockingham Diamond

(By

Collinson Owen)

CHAPTER XVII (continued.) . ■ “Excellent. I think it is all absolutely sound, Saunders. And wUI you take charge of the bauble again, or shall I ring for the manager and ask him to look after it?” “I think it wUI be all right with jne, sir. I shan’t be stirring out of here,” “Good. Then put me out what you think is most suitable and I. wUI brave the evening air clad like a barbarian.” Pilgrim departed soon after. Had Rockingham gone abroad wearing the diamond, he would have felt it advisable, after that story of his being followed, to remain as near to him as possible all the evening. But in the circumstances he felt he could leave him with safety, and go to the office to make sure that his wire was well on its way to London. CHAPTER XVIH. It was something after two in the mornihg when Rockingham entered the hotel again. He was in the pleasant frame of mind of one who has spent a thoroughly amusing evening. Vanbrugh’s dinner party in the Bois had been a thorough success, and afterwards Rockingham had insisted on being host, and transported everybody to Maxime’s. Though occasionally during the evening hiS troubles had obtruded themselves, he had on the whole been able to throw himself heartily into the gaieties of the amusing company Vanbrugh had gathered round him. Rockingham had been in no way deceived by the fictitious merrymaking in which he had been . taking part. But it had served its turn very well. A sleepy liftman took hirn up to his rooms on the second floor. Rockingham determined to drop into bed immediately and take advantage of the pleasant dreaminess which a fairly free indulgence in wine had engendered. He did not want to lie awake thinking again. But as he switched on the light in his salon he received a shock which affected him-harshly as though he had been suddenly drenched in cold water. Lying face downwards on the carpet, his arms outspread, was the body of a man. For a moment Rockingham stood looking down on it hardly believing his senses. There. seemed to be something familiar in the figure lying there. Bending down he turned it oyer to look at the face. “Good God!” he explained. The man

, was Sir Marcus! There' was a • little smear of blood on the right temple, and Rockingham’s mind‘at'once’flew to the idea of a pistol. But looking more closely he saw that the blood must have been caused by a blow—a heavy blow whch had fallen just where the thick dark hair began to cluster. Quickly Rockingham unbuttoned the prostrate man’s waistcoat and shirt,-and placed his hand' over the heart. It' was beating faintly. “Not dead, anyhow,” he said aloud, and was startled at the tense hoarse i tones of his own vdice. He stood up and looked round the room. There were no signs of a struggle, or of disorder save that a soft hat was lying on the floor. Thrown over the back of a chair was a light overcoat. Then Rockingham saw lying on the table was a telegraph envelope. Picking it up he saw that it had been opened. He took out the telegram. It ran: “Splendid, delighted. Am going ahead with preparations and will write Arlington.” He dropped it again without any mental comment. It did not seem to be of any importance.' But what did it all mean? What was Sir Marcus doing there? Who had knocked him out? Who had opened the telegram? And Saunders—where was Saunders in all this? The queries raced through his head as he turned again to look at the man on the floor. And then through the half open door of his bedroom there came a ] sound which struck a chill through the body and set his heart racing with sud- ' den fright and apprehension. It was a sigh—a faint, shuddering groan. Rockingham caught sight of his own face in a mirror and was startled at its deathly whiteness, at the frightened i dilation of the dyes. It required an ef- 1 fort to master himself, to turn his back on the man on the floor and advance to < whatever lay in his bedroom. He strode forward with clenched fists, ; fearing he knew now what, and switch < on the light of the bedroom. On the bed lay Saunders, a large white handkerchief bound tightly- round his 1 mouth and nose. He was motionless but as Rockingham looked at him, relieved • to find no more frightening spectacle, : Saunders groaned softly again. A faint, ; sickly smell told its own story. i The cold terror which had for a mo- ; ment overwhelmed him fell from Rock- | ingham at once, and he felt more joyful to think that here was something he i more or less understood and could deal with. He plucked the handkerchief ; away from the valet’s mouth, soaked a ( sponge in water, bathed his face, and , then from on high let the water splash, drop by drop on to Saunders eyes and ] mouth. Seizing the handles of the high ] French windows he waved them vigor- ■ ously to "and fro, bringing a wave of j fresh, cool air into the. room. ; After a renewal of his ministrations ■ Saunders opened his eyes, gazed at ; Rockingham stupidly, and shut them again. Rockingham made him drink a little cold water, fanned him vigorously with a towel, slauped his hands and pinched b. 13 cheeks, and soon was relieved to find Saunders giving unmistakable signs of coming to. . ! “So much for one invalid, said Rockingham to himself. “Ndw for the other. He went back to Sir Marcus, put a . cushion under his head, and bathed his face gentlv with water. He hoped to see this victim also give signs of returning consciousness, but the face of Sir

I Marcus remained like a mask of death Rockingham remembered that he hac some brandy in a flask in his dressing j case, and swiftly getting it administered I a small quantity. But for all his efforts j Sir Marcus remained as he had first seer him. Rockingham began to grow a little distracted. ’ “Why the deuce aren’t we all taught [ what to do when things of this sort hapj pen?” he murmured to himself. For a moment he thought of rousing [ the hotel, but refrained. There would ,be an inquiry—the police—a devil of a fuss. He had had quite enough of in- ’ quiries about Sir Marcus. But though h'e [ would not admit it, even to himself, it s was the thought of Vera that really restrained him. ' He went back to Saunders, and was glad to see that he was now sitting up, though still looking dazed and stupid. “How do you feel now, Saunders?” he inquired. “All right, sir, all right,” Saunders looked over his shoulder as if expecting to see somebody else. “This is a funny go, sir, isn’t it?” “Can you tell me what happened? Here, take a stiff drink of this. I don’t know if it is the right treatment, but we will risk it.” The treatment seemed to work quite well, and Saunders visibly improved after he had drunk the brandy poured out for him. “Well, sir . . Saunders began. Then in response to a thought that broke in on him he plunged his hand into his inner breast pocket. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “My God, sir. It’s gone!” "Don’t worry about that,” said Rockingham, feeling neither glad nor sorry, in the rust of emotions. “Try and tell me what happened. Explain it all.” “But the diamond’s been stolen again, sir.” * “All right. But tell me all about it.” “Well, sir, it was just before midnight. I had been reading in my room, and ) came in here to have a last look round before going to bed. The diamond was in my pocket all right. There’s no doubt about that. Everything was all right in the salon,—in fact, I wasn’t worrying or thinking about anything. Then I came in here, switched on the light, and went to your dressing table. As I did so 1 heard a sound behind me, but before I could turn something was thrown round my throat—quid: as lightening—and twisted tight. I felt a knee in my back, and was pulled hard backwards. As I fell I just had a glimpse in the dressing table glass of a man—dark,.. with . a cropped moustache—l should know him again.”. Saunders paused and held his head. He seemed greatly depressed, “Try another drink,” said Rockingham, and produced the brandy again. “It’s not that, sir, I was thinking of the diamond —oh, thank you, sir.” “Now then—he pulled you backwards. Go on.” “Well, sir, it all happened so sudden and quick I hadn’t a chance to make a fight for it. I was just garrotted—that’s the word for it. And there was no doubt about his strength—he was like a bullock. He , just jerked me backwards, then fell on me with all his weight, knocking the breath out of me. Then he jammed the handkerchief with chloroform or something on it, right over my mouth, and lay on that.. I fought and struggled, but by that time I was like a baby. I thought I was going to suffocate. Then I felt myself going off . . . The next thing I remember is seeing you, sir.” “The thug, the damned thug,” exclaimed Rockingham fiercely. He clenched his fists in intense anger. This story of brutal attack in his own rooms made him feel he would like to lay about him with the club of Hercules He had never felt any anger over the attack made on him at Mull House—quite the contrary. But this enraged him. There was something so brutal, so ugly, about It. Saunder’s recital hardly suggested the handiwork of Sir Marcus. But what part, then, had he played in all this? “You speak of only one man,” he said to Saunders. “Didn’t you see two of them?” Saunders shook his head. “There was only one.” “Then you don’t know anything of the man who is lying in there?” Rockingham pointed to the salon. “A man lying in there!” Saunders eyes opened with amazement. “Come in and see,” said Rdckingham, and led the way. Saunders gave a little cry as he saw the body on the floor. “My God, is he dead, sir?” “No, but badly knocked out. And that’s the first you’ve seen of him?” “Absolutely, sir, that’s not the one who attacked me. This beats everything. But I’m positive there was only one man in the bedroom. Did you find this one lying here when you came in, sir? My God, and the diamond gone! Saunders bewilderment was complete He sank on to a chair and pressed his hand to his head. • . Rockingham felt his distraction returning as he looked at the motionless figure on the floor. What the devil was to be done with a situation like this?. Hertford, by Jove! It came into his head like an inspiration. He ought to be able to advise in a situation like if anybody- could. Rockingham thanked his stars there was a telephone in the room. He reached swiftly for the “annuaire” and turned the page feverishly in search of Hertford’s number. (To be continued.)