The Rockingham Diamond

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1935, Page 13

The Rockingham Diamond

(By

Collinson Owen)

CHAPTER XXIV (Continued).

There was laughter in the room for the first time, and everybody felt immensely stimulated by it; Vera’s eyes were dancing with sudden merriment, and the excitement of the plot they were composing. At that moment, it all seemed merely a piece of harmless fun, designed for somebody’s amusement. The vaguely threatening figure of Inspector Bonomme was forgotten.

“Why not a disguise of some sort?” cried Vera. “A chauffeur’s coat and cap, say, or something like that.” They discussed the proposal in their new mood of merriment —half jesting and half serious in their attitude to it.

“Why mot a gentleman’s gentleman?” laughed Clifford entering thoroughly into the idea. “Has Saunders got a spare suit. With this thin, clean shaved face of mine I should look the model valet.” “That’s an idea too,” said Rockingham. He looked round, but Saunders with his usual discretion had retired. As they fell to discussing the matter again there was a tap on the door and Saunders entered, bearing something on his arm. “How. would these do, sir?” he said to Rockingham. And the garment in either hand he held forward was the wasp coloured black and yellow striped waistcoast, and a dark blue cut-away coat with brass buttons, so often worn by French hotel servants.

“Good Lord, where did you get these?” “Borrowed them, sir, from a service room along the corridor there. It’s all right. I know that the man who wears them will be but till the evening.” “But that is genius, Saunders,” cried Rockingham. “If there is to be any disguise, this is the very thing.”

Saunders’ intervention was a great success. It settled the question, of disguise there and then. With such a happy inspiration to hand, it seemed like flying in the face bf providence hot to adopt it. Clifford Was more enthusiastic than anybody else, and Rockingham laughed to himself to see his enthusiasm for the suggestion. It explained so much in his character. “La .seance est levee,” cried Clifford gaily. “Leave me with Saunders and you’ll see What a fine figure I’ll cut.”

Rockingham turned to Saunders. “Back a suit case at the same time,” he said. “Put Mr. Clifford’s clothes in it, and everything else he may want. My things ought to be a pretty good fit.”.

“Yes, sir,” Said SatlnderS, He had already thought of all these things, but it did not occur to him to say so.

The ladies and Rockingham withdrew, with a few parting shafts of merriment. It was extraordinary how light-hearted eVefybbdy felt. Ry common consent they how regarded it all as a merry joke. It occurred to Rockingham that if it were dnly a joke, there was ho need to do it. Was there really anything to fear? he wondered to himself. In their present mood it seemed absurd to have any fears. But he was careful hot to impart any of his self-communing to the two women. Their Sudden happiness was much too precious to disturb. Mr. vah Duren was a woman transformed. It occurred to Rockingham that this was probably the first really' happy moment she had experienced in all the time he had known het.

Possibly, he thought again, both of them felt a little secret fear beneath their merriment, and both were equally determined hot to show it. He would be very gald to see Hertford, he reflected—but his tongue rattled oh, making the most of the situation. In the middle of their chatter, there came a knock bn the door.

“Mr. Hertford,” cried Mrs. van Duren, and the relief in her tone showed Rockingham that she was not entirely Oblivious of the real facts of the situation. '

There was a pause. That did not seem like Hertford.

“Entrez,” shouted Rockingham loudly. “Come in,” he shouted in addition. The door suddenly flew open and a tall, fair and spare man, with the stamp of the open air Englishman all over him, stepped into the room. “Good lord, Bobby Arlington!” claimed Rockingham. His tone was not altogether one of glad welcome. This was a complication. “Hello Rock! Just flown over. Baggage following with my man. I suppose you’re bringing yours.” His boisterous greeting was out before he pulled up suddenly and bowed to the ladies.

Rockingham presented him. "A very old friend,” he explained to Vera. “This is the miscreant who wants to carry me off to shoot lions.” “Wants to!” exclaimed Arlington. “Wants to! But areh’t ...”

“That's all right Bobby,” interrupted Rockingham hurriedly, "we’ll talk it all over a little later. Miss van Duren loves lions, and hates the idea of my shooting them. Don’t you Vera?” The last words were a stroke of genius. They showed Bobby Arlihgtofi how the land lay. He scented danger—opposition—at once. He gave a startled glance at Rockingham. "But my dear Rock, wait until you see the kit that’s coming over. Tons of it. Why ...” “All right, Bobby,” exclaimed Rockingham a little desperately. “We’ll go into that. But the fact is, that just at the moment . . .” There came another khbek at the door. Thank. God, Hertford at last. With heartfelt thanks for the deliverance from the problem at the moment, Rockingham turned eagerly to the door. But it opened without further ado. And standing in the opening, his bowler hat in his hands, his body slightly inclined with formal politeness, was Inspector Bonomme. CHAPTER XXX.

Rockingham curdled at the shock. He wondered how the women felt, but did not look at them. He was up on his feet in an instant, and greeted the visitor, but with ho pretended effusion. He was

careful to be his natural self. Tire danger was there, and he rose to meet it. “Bonjour, Inspector. What brings you here?”

“Bonjour, Monsieur Rockingham. You will pardon this intrusion, I hope.” He spread out his hands. “But duty is duty. I did not know you were so occupied.”

“That does not matter. We were discussing a trip to Africa, Inspector, to shoot lions. Mr. Arlington hefe is a great sportsman. He is never happy unless he is shooting something, and he has come to drag me away with him to Africa. But excuse me.” And with an air Rockingham presented the visitor all round.

The Inspector bowed to each in turn, With a murmured phrase. Rockingham was relieved to notice that the two women were carrying off the situation very well. But what were they feeling? And what—what in the name of the devil was going to happen? How much of the real situation did Saunders understand? Rockingham wondered. A false move from either him or Clifford now would precipitate the situation. The Inspector had turned to him again. “Would it be possible to have a word with you in private, M. Rockeengham?” Rockingham plunged in headlong—volubly. “Mon cher Inspector, you have come about that wretched diamond again. Is it not? Well then, my friends know all about it.” He waved his hand around. “They know how much I have suffered. Whatever you have got to say you may say in front of them.” “As you Wish.” The Inspector took out his pocket book, ahd extracted an envelope from Which he took a slip of paper. “But a short half an hour ago I received this. Will you please read it.” Rockingham took the slip of paper. On it was written in French: “If you wish to know all about Sir Marcus you will find out all about him in Suite No. 4 at the Hotel Champs Elysees.” “But what dbes this mean?” exclaimed Rockingham. “This is the work of some farceur.” His irritation was well feigned. “Really, Inspector, don’t you think this has gone too far. I have been harried by the Press of tWo capitals. My life has become a nightmare. And now you come and worry ine about a man Who, suggested yourself, is only a myth.” The Inspector shrugged his shoulders. “it was my duty to Come here, Mohsieur. The case of your diamond, as you admit, presents many curiousunsatisfactory features. As to this Sair Mafcbus—he is certainly a shadowy person. But I do not think he is a myth.” As the Inspector ended Rockingham heard the bedroom door behind him open. He was aware that somebody had come into the room. This was the point of precipitation. Now for it! He turned fearfully to find launders standing by his side.

.“Excuse me, sir, you said three suit cases I think.”

Rockingham strove to pierce the sense of this cryptic remark. There was a meanifig took in SaUnders' eye. Obviously he was busy about something. “That's right, Saunders.” “Thank you, sir.” Saunders returned whence he had come, and the sound bf his voice arrived, giving orders, with the bump bf luggage bn the floor. Then Saunders appeared, carrying a large suit case, followed by an hotel servant carrying two others. “Excuse me, sir,” said Saunders, and sailed through imperturbably, opened the door and sailed but, followed by the Servant. Rockingham took out a cigarette. His attitude was that of a man to whbm the activities of servants are invisible.

“Ybu are going away?” asked the Inspector, who for his part had cast a sharp eye bn the suit cases. Rockingham laughed, and pointed a finger at the bewildered Bobby. “He is trying to drag me away at once to shoot those lions. If I go to Africa I must return to London to make various arrangements. I am trying to make up my mind. If I go,” he gave a careless wave of the hand—“the telephone, a motor car, a special aeroplane,—l shall be in London in two hours. We were discussing T7>at very point when you came in.”

Lying was an easy matter, Rockingham reflected. You had only to say the first thing that came into your head. And the madder it sounded, the mbre reasonable, he knew, it would seem to Inspector Bonomme. It was just the sort of thing he would expect from ah incomprehensible, wealthy big-game-hunt-ing Englishman who scorned the possession of a diamond that would found the fortunes of a hundred French families. Inspector Bonomme grunted, and stroked his moustache. . “It is difficult,” he remarked, a little plaintively. “And this gentleman, Mr.—.” He broke off suddenly and indicated Bobby. “Mr. Arlington.” “He is staying here with you?” “Nd. He arrived by aeroplane from London, a few minutes before you came here. Good Lord, you don’t think he is Sair Marcbus,” Rockingham burst out laughing. “Bobby hand me over your passport.” “But what’s the matter?” burst out that bewildered person. “What’s it all about?’’ He turned to the ladies, who had been silent throughout. “I’ve never seen Rockingham like this,” he added earnestly. “And what do you want my passport for?” “The Inspector is looking tot the man who keeps on stealing niy diamond, and he’s taking nd chances, I just want to prove that you afe who you are.”