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Page 79
"Oh, well!" answered Mitchington. "As the Herald's published
tomorrow you'll see it in there, doctor--I've supplied an
account for this week's issue; just a short one--but I thought
you'd like to know. You've heard of the famous jewel robbery
at the Duke's, some years ago? Yes?--well, we've found all the
whole bundle tonight--buried in Paradise! And how do you
think the secret came out?"
"No good at guessing," said Bryce.
"It came out," continued Mitchington, "through a man who, with
Braden--Braden, mark you!--got in possession of it--it's a
long story--and, with Braden, was going to reveal it to the
Duke that very day Braden was killed. This man waited until
this very morning and then told his Grace--his Grace came with
him to us this afternoon, and tonight we made a search and
found--everything! Buried--there in Paradise! Dug 'em up,
doctor!"
Bryce showed no great interest. He took a leisurely sip at
his liquor and set down the glass and pulled out his cigarette
case. The two men, watching him narrowly, saw that his
fingers were steady as rocks as he struck the match.
"Yes," he said as he threw the match away. "I saw you busy."
In spite of himself Mitchington could not repress a start nor
a glance at Jettison. But Jettison was as imperturbable as
Bryce himself, and Mitchington raised a forced laugh.
"You did!" he said, incredulously. "And we thought we had it
all to ourselves! How did you come to know, doctor?"
"Young Bewery told me what was going on," replied Bryce, "so I
took a look at you. And I fetched old Harker to take a look,
too. We all watched you--the boy, Harker, and I--out of sheer
curiosity, of course. We saw you get up the parcel. But,
naturally, I didn't know what was in it--till now."
Mitchington, thoroughly taken aback by this candid statement,
was at a loss for words, and again he glanced at Jettison.
But Jettison gave no help, and Mitchington fell back on
himself.
"So you fetched old Harker?" he said. "What--what for,
doctor? If one may ask, you know."
Bryce made a careless gesture with his cigarette.
"Oh--old Harker's deeply interested in what's going on," he
answered. "And as young Bewery drew my attention to your
proceedings, why, I thought I'd draw Harker's. And Harker
was--interested."
Mitchington hesitated before saying more. But eventually he
risked a leading question.
"Any special reason why he should be, doctor?" he asked.
Bryce put his thumbs in the armholes of his waistcoat and
looked half-lazily at his questioner.
"Do you know who old Harker really is?" he inquired.
"No!" answered Mitchington. "I know nothing about him--except
that he's said to be a retired tradesman, from London, who
settled down here some time ago."
Bryce suddenly turned on Jettison.
"Do you?" he asked.
"I, sir!" exclaimed Jettison. "I don't know this gentleman
--at all!"
Bryce laughed--with his usual touch of cynical sneering.
"I'll tell you--now--who old Harker is, Mitchington," he said.
"You may as well know. I thought Mr. Jettison might recognize
the name. Harker is no retired London tradesman--he's a
retired member of your profession, Mr. Jettison. He was in
his day one of the smartest men in the service of your
department. Only he's transposed his name--ask them at the
Yard if they remember Harker Simpson? That seems to startle
you, Mitchington! Well, as you're here, perhaps I'd better
startle you a bit more."
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