"Indeed?" said Mapleson. He flung away the half smoked cigarette, and busied himself with selecting another. "Well, what do you want to know?" "I want to know the name of the person—man or woman—who pledged it." Mapleson changed his mind, shut the cigarette-case with a snap, clasped his hands in front of him, thumbs up and pressed against his teeth. "Can you tell me a little more?" he said at last. "No, I cannot," McKenna said frankly. The eyes of the jeweler wandered from the detective and settled on the face of Beecher. The look made the young man flush. It was as though the smiling, affable confidant of feminine mysteries and intrigues was asking himself what part in all this he were playing. "Can you tell me for whom you are acting, Mr. Beecher?" he said suddenly. McKenna made a gesture of warning, interrupting: "I’m sorry—we cannot." "Have you a warrant?" continued Mapleson seriously. "In other words, is this a friendly meeting, or a legal procedure?" "There is no warrant as yet. It is a case we particularly desire to keep out of court," said McKenna. "It is very embarrassing," said Mapleson frankly, "very. I don’t know quite how to act. Of course, McKenna, considering your relations with our firm, I should always be glad to assist you in any way—you understand that. The present case is different. The ring was not pledged with Sontag & Company, but with me personally. It is a personal matter and a very delicate one." "I understand that," said McKenna, frowning. "And yet I must inform you that I shall probably have to proceed in the usual manner." "Of course, if I’m brought into court on a summons," said Mapleson thoughtfully, "that is different. If I am faced by the fact that a theft has taken place, I can do nothing else but aid the law." "But now—" "At present? No, McKenna, I cannot give you the name of the person that pledged the ring with me. The case seems very complex to me—much more than you may believe; and as nothing is legally charged I prefer to keep my relations confidential." "Mr. Mapleson, can you answer this?" "What?" "Is your refusal because you believe the intention of the person who pledged it is to restore it to its owner?" Mapleson turned the question over a long time, whistling softly to himself. Finally he said: "I don’t know. I know nothing." "Can you tell me the amount you advanced on the ring?" "Yes; I think I can tell you that," he said, after a moment’s thought. "I advanced twenty-eight thousand dollars." "Twenty-eight?" said McKenna, lifting his eyebrows. "Twenty-eight on a ring worth only thirty thousand?" "It was not a business transaction—entirely," said Mapleson stiffly. "Then Sontag & Company knew nothing about it?" "No." "Was the ring pledged the day before Majendie committed suicide?" "Yes." "In the morning?" "Early in the morning." "One final question. The ring is still in your possession?" "No."