Aaron Rodd, DivinerOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
Aaron Rodd, Diviner
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Detective and mystery stories, English; English fiction -- 20th century
"Feel in the other pocket," Harvey Grimm directed him.
Aaron obeyed. From the right-hand pocket of the overcoat which was
hanging over the chair, he drew out a second and more beautiful
necklace. As he held it before him, the cross flashed out from the
rose diamond in the centre.
"Good God!" he exclaimed. "You mean to say that it was here all the
time?"
"Of course it was. I told you that I was in a tight corner. He never
gave me a chance to hide it. I knew these rooms would be searched.
Fortunately, he chose the left-hand pocket of my overcoat instead of
the right."
"What are you going to do with it?" Aaron asked breathlessly.
Harvey Grimm glanced at the clock. It was a quarter to one.
"You shall see," he replied. "Just open the door, will you? I think I
heard some one ring. Put the necklace away first--in that drawer will
do."
Aaron did as he was told. A short, dark man, dressed with extreme
care, pushed past him into the room. It was the husband of Madame de
Borria.
"I have come," he announced. "How is the good Mr. Grimm, and what is
the news this morning?"
"The news is," Harvey Grimm told him, "that the detective your wife
employed has been up here, searching for the necklace."
"Marvellous!" the little man declared, rolling himself a cigarette
nervously. "How sagacious! What foresight! But as to results eh...?"
Harvey Grimm, with a little sigh of relief, thrust his hand into the
drawer, produced the necklace and handed it to the South American.
Mr. de Borria's face glowed with satisfaction.
"I have had a leetle trouble with Madame," he announced, "but it is
past. She agreed at last eagerly to the advertisement. You have seen
it?"
Harvey Grimm nodded.
"Two thousand pounds reward and no questions asked," he murmured.
Mr. de Borria drew from his pocket a battered and soiled cardboard box,
into which he proceeded to stow the necklace.
"I make a package here, as you see," he pointed out. "I have received
an anonymous note which makes a demand upon my honour that, if I accede
to its terms, I destroy it. It is destroyed!"
"The letter----?" Harvey Grimm began.
Mr. de Borria tapped his forehead.
"In the air--in my brain," he exclaimed. "What does it matter? It is
destroyed. I go to the place named, I produce the two thousand
pounds--behold!--and the necklace is mine."
He laid a pocket-book upon the table and drew out a sheaf of notes,
which he carefully counted into two heaps. One he pushed towards
Harvey Grimm, the other he replaced in his pocket. Then he smiled. He
had the engaging smile of a child.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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