The Rockingham Diamond

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1935, Page 13

The Rockingham Diamond

I

Collinson Owen)

CHAPTER XXVII. me newcomer on his parb appeared to be immensely surprised to see Rockingham. He was well-dressed in a dinner jacket suit. A well set up man of rather more than medium height, with an obviously muscular frame, he might have passed in any assembly for a typical man of affairs. But to Rockingham, who knew so much of him in advance, the wolf was but ill concealed in the sheep’s clothing. Beneath what most people would have called the strong face, with its close clipped moustache, he saw something that was brutal, and even beastly. All his inherited prejudice rose at the sight of this man masquerading as a member of polite society. Roguery may at times be given an attractive polish, but in this example of it Rockingham saw and felt only the ugliness. He felt much as a high-bred terrier might to an impudent and overgrown rat.

The newcomer looked from Lucie •to Rockingham and back , again. Nobody spoke, and already some of . Lucie’s intense anger seemed to have evaporated. It was the newcomer who broke the silence. ■■■•. ■ ' "I thought you were alone. I did not know you had a visitor.” He spoke to Lucie, in. a French heavy with accent, but fluent enough. "Won’t you introj duce me?” He .'spoke the last words with a certain grim humour. . . Lucie shrugged her shoulders impatiently. "I am in no mood for faroe. You know who he is. And—” she hesitated a moment and then came out with it hurriedly, "He has got the diamond.” She lobked c defiantly at Rockingham as .she said this, with a -squaring of her white shoulders as if to draw his attention to the fact that her threats had not been merely empty ones. It was so completely and delightfully feminine that Rockingham could not restrain a smile. In spite of everything, he could not bring himself to' feel any anger against Lucie. She looked so beautiful' as she Stood there, in-her mingled anger and defiance, that she needed no other, justification. Lucie .was supreme other kind, and that was enough. And 'Rockingham had a conviction that she was not even bad at heart, and might even be very good. ~ . The Honourable George addressed Rockingham for the first time, dropping into English. • “I understand, Mr! Rockingham, that the famous diamond has found its way back to you., T know quite .well you never wanted to see it again. So youTl do us both a service if you’ll just hand it over. The little deal I was putting through on it isn’t quite completed yet.”, 1 Rockingham ignored him. He turned

to Lucie. _ “Madame, I think I have said all I can say. I am sorry for the unfortunate contretemps. which has arisen but I must be going.” He bowed to her and moved towards the door. Lucie watched breathlessly. As Rockingham stepped towards him the Honourable George moved backwards until his shoulders touched the door. His eyes glittered ferally. Rockingham’s contemptuous attitude, which refused even id acknowledge his presence in the room, had stirred him at once to anger. The mask of the polished man of the world was dropped already. Mr. Fred Harris stood revealed for what he was in all his nakedness. "Say, Mr. Rockingham, what do you take me for?” he drawled slowly and mockingly.. To Rockingham it seemed sheer insolence, and nothing more. “A damned' rogue,” he rapped out “Get out of my way,” and Rockingham made to move forward again. But swiftly the hand of the Honourable George dived into his pocket and came, out holding a lethal*'looking automatic pistol. He held it pointed at Rockingham his hand resting lightly near the hip in the approved modern fashion. “Cut it but, Mr. Rockingham. Those high and mighty airs are no use to me. Get back a bit." Rockingham was really angry at this ' sudden and ’ unexpected development—although he told himself he ought to have thought of it. He was brought up within some two yards or more from the man at the door. He measured the distance mentally. It was too much for a spring Any such sudden movement on his part must stimulate the ruffian into immediate action, and he would be shot before he could get a grip on him. It was but of the question. “Get a bit further back. Give me room to breathe,” the Honourable George went on in the same mocking tone. Rockingham complied, with rage in his heart. , » “An’ now put your hands up. "I’ll see you damned first,” said Rockingham viciously. “I don’t „propose to look ridiculous for anybody.” “Put up your hands or I’ll shoot. The command was spoken angrily, but Rockingham did nbt budge. His dominating thought was as to how he could get even with this brute. He gave no attention to the idea that he was probably m considerable danger. The jaw of the Honourable George seemed to push looked murderous. Then his face re laxed, and he gave' a laugh. “Well, I suppose it’s partly a matttr of form, and I wdn’t insist on it. Well manage quite nicely without it. Only, STyou move, you’ll take the consequences.” He momentarily turned to Jucie, who had been standing motionless watching all’this. . “Maintenant, allez. Go and tak “ 1 out of his pocket.” He jerked his head towards Rockingham. It was spoken as a command, roughly. Mr Fred Harris was too much occupied to bother about forms and ceremonies. She frowned slightly, and looked at him but did not stir. h “Allez, allez,” he insisted, nob understanding. “But don’t step between us. I’ll see he does nothing.

For a moment more she remained irresolute, seeming to think it over. And then, with a little jerk of the head—an expression of that same defiance which had before so amused Rockingham—-she moved towards him. Her eyes met his, and he held them with his gaze. But she came forward. “I regret, madame, that a lady should be asked to perform such a task,” Rockingham observed pleasantly. His gaze held hers and she seemed to waver again. But with an effort she threw his influence off. “What did I tell you,” she murmured. But there was little of triumph or anger in her voice now. She passed behind him, her draperies' rustling and jingling faintly, and then Rockingham felt her-two hands passing over him, slowly and with; no inclination to hurry. “Le voila!” she exclaimed, and he- felt her hand thrust into the side pocket of his jacket.• .' ’ , . • She passed before him again, and held up the diamond to watch it sparkle. “Ah, mais c’est magnifique,” she murmured. She was like a child who had recovered some valued plaything. Then with a coquettish gesture, she bent before a mirror that hung on the wall, placing the diamond on her forehead as a diadem, delighted with the effect. ■ “Donnez le moi!” said Mr. Harris, holding out his disengaged hand. “Oh, mais. . she began to protest. “Give it to me,” he insisted roughly. “It, is safer with me for the . time being. You shall have it back after.” Doubtfully she handed .it over. In his anxiety to keep Rockingham under observation, he almost snatched it from her. Rockingham stiffened as he saw it disappear into the Honourable George’s pocket. The diamond was a curse and a nightmare. But to be rdbbed of it in this barefaced fashion, and by such an individual, was quite another story. “And now, Mr. Rockingham,” went on the Honourable : George “what are we going to do with you? We’ve got the diamond. What about you?” “I don’t suppose you are going to do anything with me,” returned Rockingham calmly. “Well, I am not so sure of that. The situation is rather mixed. But see here, I am ready to do a deal with you. I know perfectly well the conditions under which the diamond was left you, and what its.possession means to you. It is a charity for me to relieve you of it. I am doing you a good turn, - and you know it. Give me your word, as a gentleman, that you will leave this matter where it is and we’ll call it square. You go away and I go away, and there’s no more said. I know you are no more anxious to,have.anything to do with the police than I am. Is it a deal?” “No, it isn’t.” “Ybu won’t meet me?” “I refuse to discuss the matter.” “Well,, you’ve got a nerve. You’ve shown that already. I’m going to test it a bit further. You’ve got to agree with my suggestion. If -not, it will be the worse for ydu. I’m going to count ten, slowly, and if you don’t cry. quits by the time I’ve finished, I’m going, to shoot. Now then, what do you say?” “I’ve already told you,” said Rockingham, in th® resigned, languid tones of a man who is tired of reiteration. “Then we’ll see. I’m going to begin counting right away. One!” Rockingham looked at Lucie. She was standing midway between them, but out of the line of fire, in her original position. She had apparently more or less followed the drift of the Honourable George’s words. And as he uttered the word “one,” and his pistol cocked up menacingly, her eyes x widened with apprehension . and her gaze travelled to and fro between the two men. “Two!” said the Honourable George loudly, after an appreciable interval. But for the monosyllable there was silence. “Three!” Rockingham smiled, although he felt the strain of the menacing weapon. But the man would never dare to shoot, he told himself. The complications would be too serious even for the Honourable George to face. “Four!” “I’m damned if the brute shall bluff me,” Rockingham murmured internally. He found that his brain was working with extraordinary swiftness and clarity. He made a running mental commentary as the count proceeded. “Five!” “Oh, non,” came like a frightened murmur from Lucie “Assez, assez!” Rockingham saw that she was very pale and agitated. She brought her white hands together with a convulsive movement. “Six,” pronounced the relentless voice. Rockingham looked at the Honourable George. He was pale too. His jaw was set, and the lines of his face hard and cruel. He looked dangerous—like a man who had become hypnotised by his own idea, however much or little he had meant it originally. “Seven!” Rockingham saw that the movement of Lucie’s hands had become accentuated. She was almost wringing them. Her lips were parted with terror. She turned towards Rockingham with an appealing gesture. “Do what he wishes?” she pleaded huskily. • Rockingham shook his head. But he liked less and less the look of the man at the door. If only he could get at him and strangle the life out of him . . . But in the meantime, what the devil was he to do? It looked as though the ruffian was going to shoot after all. But how could one possibly cry quits to. such a brute? ... If only his uncle had been able to foresee all that his whim would mean!

“Eight!” “Damned melodrama, murmured Rockingham to himself. But he did not feel it. The brute at the door looked like a man in a trance. Auto-suggested! ByJove! That was whaQt was! No-

thing else. The man was powerless in the hands of his own mad idea. Lucie was wringing her hands. “Nine!”

There came a shriek from Lucie that shook Rockingham to the depths, and she flung herself on the Honourable George and was bearing down on his pistol arm crying out hysterically with a babble of words. With the _ shriek Rockingham was shocked into action. He leaped forward blindly, struck out with all his strength, heard the crack of the pistol, and pulled down his quarry with all the savage joy of a hound at the kill. (To be continued.)