The Rockingham Diamond

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 15

The Rockingham Diamond

(By

Collinson Owen)

CHAPTER XIX. The procedure of getting- through was a very leisurely one. It was ten laggard minutes and to Rockingham seemed, an age, before he heard a cross and. sleepy voice answering, , ‘ ' “Allo, allo! Qui-est-ce?”- Hertford crOaked. , , ...... i Rockingham made himself known. And without wasting -any'time on polite for J malities he told Hertford that he was in a deuce of a hole'and desired his help and presence..immediately. . ; i There came grumbling noises from the; other end. Rockingham ignored them, i “Try your best to be here within' twenty minutes,” he urged, “Put a collar and tie in your pocket and button an overcoat round your neck. Only- do hurry, old boy. I want you badly. It’s serious, damnably serious. Gan you get a taxi at your end?” “There’s a rank in the Avenue Henri Martin, a few minutes away,” said Hertford in another voice. “I’ll be with you as soon as I can manage'it.” “Thanks, old man, I’ll tell you all about it when, you arrive. , And I’ll have Saunders waiting about somewhere in the hall to bring you up.” He returned to. his task of bringing some sign of consciousness toSir ; Marcus, but with no success. He cursed himself for his ’ luck. of elementary knowledge in such matters. He pondered over the question of more brandy, and decided against it. But the deathly pale face seemed to be asking for warmth, and Rockingham carefully laid a travelling rug over Sir Marcus, and put a pillow under his head. Then hd sat down to wait. There was nothing more to do. ■. It was an immense relief when he (heard a discreet tap on the door, .and Hertford, appeared, ushered in .by Saunders, who immediately disappeared ‘in the direction of Rockingham’s dress-ing-room, shutting the door behind him. . Hertford stared in amazement at the body on the floor. To him it seemed like a corpse. He looked searchingly at Rockingham. > ■ “Good heavens, old man, what’s up?” the ejaculated. His tone was full of conicern and sympathy. He conveyed at ..once the impression; that he thought 'Rockingham was indeed in a desperate hole. “Has there been a fight, or what?” “Not guilty, as far as I am concerned,” said Rockingham with a smile.; “I found him like that when I came in less than an hour ago—except that I have just fixed him up with that rug and pillow. It’s good of you to come. You’re a godsend. ’Now sit down here. I’ve got a rather rummy story to te’l you, and I want to give you the facts as soon as I can.” “Is he dead?” Hertford pointed downwards. “No. He’s had a bad knock. A jemmy or a life preserver, or something.” “What about a doctor?” “That’s one of the things you can help me in. Now listen.” He thrust Hertford in a chair, and noticed that obeying his suggestion, he had not put on a collar, and tie. Then as rapidly and as clear!-* as possible he ' gave Hertford an outline of the situation in which he was placed, and why he was anxious that there should be no inquiry as to Sir Marcus, He hesitated about bringing Vera’s name into it, but it had to be done. He left something to Hertford's imagination on this point. “What, a night,” exclaimed Hertford when Rockingham had finished his hurried story. “Pleasant for you to come home and find two of them stretched out. iAnd ..Sir Marcus? You think he was ’ after the diamond again?” “Damned if I know what to think about that. It beats me. But what I feel certain of is that he was knocked out by the man who garrotted Saunders, •and that man must have been our friend the Honourable George. There must have been a quarrel between the *two. It may have been over the swag. Very likely was. God knows.” His voice trailed off despondently. “And your idea is to get him looked after if possible without anybody here being any the wiser?” “Exactly. And I want you to get hold of the right medicine man. An English doctor for preference.” “You don’t think it better to let the •hotel people know?” "Absolutely no. It would mean the police, and all the rest of it. I tell you, I am sick of all this horrid notoriety. It’s beastly. And as I suggested to you, there are other reasons which make it desirable to hush it up.” “But look here, old man. Suppose he died? Have you thought of that? It might be Very awkward.” “By Jove, yes! That would be awkward. Well, look here, all the more reason why we should have a doctor to see him ns soon as possible. .Who’s the Embassy sawbones? Can you get hold of him, or somebody equally discreet? We are merely calling him in, like any other doctor. ‘ Then we must be guided by what he says. -I am-not bound to worry the hotel about it. I want a doctor of my own.” “Old Rutherford,” murmured Heritor. “This will shake him up a bit. Fortunately he lives within seven or eight minutes of here. In the Avenue de la Grande Armee. If I can get a taxi, I ought to have him here pretty quickly.” . , . “The telephone?” suggested Rockingham. “No, I would rather dig him out. I 7 shall have to explain things to him first. I suggest that while I am away you get this chap to bed. Take his boots off and cover him up. He’ll be better there than lying on the floor.” Hertford was- putting on his collar as he spoke, and fumbling with his tie. As soon as he had gone, Rockingham called in Saunders. “Look here, Saunders, I’m in a devil of a hole. We’ve got to get this chap in bed, and we'll put him in your room. You’ll have to make shift with a couch. Thank the Lord I took a suite with a rs>6m for you in it. But here’s the point. I don’t want anybody in the hotel, ser-

vants or anybody, to know this chap is here,' however long he has to stay. It’s most'important. Do you think it can be managed?'” ‘T think so, sir—for a time at any rate. There have been practically no servants in your room or mine since we’ve been here. I've been doing everything myself.”

“That’s splendid. Well, now we’ll carry this chap into your bed.” • A. faint .moan escaped Sir Marcus as they. carefully picked him up—the first sign, of .life he had given. They carried him.. through Rockingham’s bedroom, then, .through the combined bath and dressing room, and so into the second bedroom adjoining, . occupied by Saunders, which completed the selfcontained suite Rockingham had taken.

Laying him on Saunders’ bed, they waited anxiously for further signs of returning consciousness, but none came. Leaving Saunders to watch, Rockingham returned to the salon, poured himself out a handsome brandy and soda, and lit a cigar. He felt a little easier in his mind. Something was being done. The responsibility as to what was to be decided would be largely the doctor’s., Thank Heaven for doctors.

■ “Old Rutherford,” when he appeared with Hertford proved to be a distinguished looking alert and tall- man of not more than forty-five, who' impressed Rockingham favourably at once. After shaking hands, with a cheery greeting, he-passed in at once to see the patient. An atmosphere o? activity ensued. With Saunders, the doctor undressed Sir Marcus as he lay in the bed. Then he demanded a hot water bottle, and Saunders produced one. Tire hot water in the dressing-room tap was boiling—there was no need to trouble the hotel servants. Rockingham and Hertford talker! while these things were going on.

“It’s quick work, to get the diamond back and lose it on the same day,” said Hertford. “But how long is this sort of thing to go on? You can’t have all your lifp turned into a circus in this fashion. If it has gone for good—all right. But suppose it comes wandering back once more? It’s all right when you are young. But you won’t be able to support these shocks, my lad, when ypu are an old buffer?.’ -c : “It is pretty clear now what my uncle was driving at,” said Rockingham. “He wahted to wean me from the lighter side of life and I am not sure he hasn’t succeeded. I would rather drive a cab than go on indefinitely with this sort of thing—a damn -sight rather.' But I’ve got a feeling that the thing is definitely lost this time. And anyhow, I’m going on a shooting trip.” He mentioned his new arrangement with Arlington. “You don’t seem terrifically enthusiastic about it, all the same,” said Hertford. “Not quite the heroic spirit with which Nimrod should start out to shoot lions. But look here”—he paused a moment. “Would you like to-er-to find out all about the van, Durens?” I could probably easily do so—a word up at the Embassy.” Rockingham glared at him. “You dare to do anything of the kind, Ju-ju, and I’ll punch your head. Good God, this world seems to be stiff with detectives already. I don’t want my best friend turning into a private inquiry agent.” . “All right, all right. Don’t take it so fiercely. I only wanted to help. It’s your affair . . . Vera van Duren. Pretty name, isn’t it? This Miss van Duren must be a very charming girl.” “She is; but how did you know?” "Oh, I merely guessed it. My diplomatic training, I suppose—sharpens the intellect, you know . . . Well, well, a beautiful maiden, a romantic and elegant footpad, a rich young man who doesn’t know what to do with his money, midnight thuggery, and. attempted assassination . . . dearie . m e > Guy, old thing, you’re worse than the Arabian Nights and Nick Carter all mixed up together.” "Look here, Ju-ju, I’ll ask you not to make a joke of it all. It’s bad enough without that.”

“But tnere is something worrying you, and I want to get at it,” said Hertford, suddenly dropping his chaffing manner and going brutally to the. point. “Are you worrying as to whether the beautiful young lady and her mother are in league with these people who have been alternately stealing and returning your precious diamond? Is that it?” “Of course not, you supreme ass,” cried Rockingham, really angry. “I’ve never thought anything so damn silly.” “Then what is worrying you,” persisted Hertford, quite undisturbed by the outburst. “You drag me from my bed at three in the morning to hear all about your troubles. Let us have the tooth out now, and done with. What is worrying you, and why are you so anxious to shield this precious person, this engaging chevalier de I’industrie, in the next room? Is it because you are in love with the young lady? And if so, what does it matter to her?” For a moment Rockingham’s eyes blazed, and he looked as though he could have fallen on the friend of his youth. Hertford, unmoved, _ smiled at him through the smoke of his cigarette. Then Rockingham’s expression relaxed and he laughed wryly. “You’re right, old. man. We may as well have the tooth out now. Frankly, I don’t know what to -think, but the fact remains I am a bit worried. A curious atmosphere of mystery has grown up round the whole thing. There were first the questions of that cursed detective. Then, looking back, I see that Mrs. van Duren was a little strange in manner when the name of Sir Marcus first came up. Then when I met Vera—that Miss van Duren—with Clifford, as he calls himself, she was certainly not herself. Then the diamond comes bacx: mysteriously. I presume there must have been some sort of pressure put on Sir Marcus to make him do it . . . And now here he is, butting in again. When first I heard of Sir Marcus he amused me. He seemed to me a pleasant rogue. I was grateful to him for relieving me

so neatly of the diamond. But when I found that he was intimate with people who mean much to me—that the underworld was mixing with my world —wall, L’s another story. I can only look on tha crooked side of. him. So you can see, old man, that though I refuse to admit for a moment that there is anything wrong with my friends—well, I’m anything but happy about it. And you can see, too, why I am so anxious to keep the police off his tifeck.” . * ' (To be continued.)