Robin Webster was clearly the warmest material ever
known.
Ricardo let the error pass, Hanaud was so
disheartened.
It is a convenient road, said Hanaud, recovering
from his confusion.
The postmaster fetched a long book and ran his
finger down the entries onone of its yellow sheets. He was looking back on to the
terrace, and even he wasstartled. He was wantonly wasting valuable timein eliciting
it a second time from Diana.
But what you were going to tell me was going to be
wrong,Hanaud returned. He was approaching the great door when to his amazement
Hanaud came outfrom the courtyard.
He had somefear in his mind which he could hardly
bring himself to utter.
Nothing was worth noticing unless Hanaud noticed
it.
Hanaud could be trusted to look after the patron
and histwo sons.
The postmaster fetched a long book and ran his
finger down the entries onone of its yellow sheets.
Yet here was Hanaud admitting his
inadequacy!
Ricardo exclaimed, and Hanaud took hiseyes from his
friends face and leaned back at his ease. Nothingworth telling unless Hanaud told
it.
Well, a fortnightago the necklace was offered to an
important jeweller in this town.
Was there ever, he asked himself, a vanity
socolossal? Yes, he showed meboth his hands, he said.
Ricardo wondered whether his hands were wet, and
wasthankful that he could go on wondering. Ricardo wondered whether his hands were
wet, and wasthankful that he could go on wondering.
Hanaud swung round towards her on the
instant.
What inthe world was Hanaud doing in the
Archiepiscopal Palace? Ricardos finehotel in the Cours de LIntendance. Hanaud rang
thebell, and the loud jangle gave the suggestion of an empty house.
A day lost, even a few hours, and what scent there
was iscold. But what you were going to tell me was going to be wrong,Hanaud
returned. The Vicomte Cassandre de Mirandol of the trembling hands was no betterthan
the rest of them.
So he turned upon his heeland marched back to his
hotel. Ricardo had now very little doubt that fiveminutes of intimate conversation
with old Mrs.
Thus he would come fresh to its perplexities when
once more hisassistance was needed.
Itwas offered at a price far below its
value.
I cannot agree that Monsieur Tidon is a fool, he
said thoughtfully. Between Robin Webster and Diana Tasborough. But his face was a
white flame of wild fury.
Ricardo along with himself in thevery thick of the
mystery. Robin Webster brought the discussion back to the graver problemwith which
it had begun.
Hanaud looked out through the open doorway.