Part 65 (1/2)

”The walking-stick and the flute-case are mine,” said Anson coolly.

”The pistol must be the driver's. I had a rifle; but your men took that away.”

”Nothing else?” said the General.

”Nothing else, sir. We looked everywhere,” replied the sergeant, and he offered his superior the objects he had brought; but the General shrugged his shoulders and looked at his officers, who each examined the revolver, stick, and flute-case, and pa.s.sed them back to the sergeant.

”Well, gentlemen,” said the General, turning to West and Ingleborough: ”you hear. What have you to say now?”

”The prisoner owned to these things being his!” said Ingleborough.

”No, I didn't!” said Anson sharply. ”Revolver isn't mine.”

”Only lent to you, perhaps,” said Ingleborough, taking the weapon from the sergeant's hands and c.o.c.king it, making Anson wince.

”I'm not going to fire,” said Ingleborough, smiling contemptuously, as he held the pistol in both hands with his thumb-nails together on the top of the b.u.t.t. Then, pressing the c.o.c.k sidewise, the b.u.t.t opened from end to end upon a concealed hinge, showing that it was perfectly hollowed out and that half-a-dozen large diamonds lay within, closely packed in cotton wool.

Anson turned clay-coloured.

”'Tisn't mine!” he cried. ”I know nothing about it!”

”Well, never mind,” said the General; ”it is ours now. An interesting bit of loot, gentlemen!”

There was a murmur of voices at this, and as soon as the pistol had been handed round the b.u.t.t was closed with a sharp snap, and the General turned to Ingleborough again.

”Well, sir,” he said: ”is that all?”

”I am not sure,” replied Ingleborough; ”but I am suspicious about that stick.”

”You think it is hollowed out?”

”Yes, sir,” said Ingleborough, and, taking it in his hands, he drew it apart, dragging into the light from its sheath a handsome Damascened three-edged blade, which he held against the cane, proving that the blade went right down to the ferrule at the end.

”What about the handle?” said one of the officers eagerly, as Ingleborough thrust back the blade into its cane sheath.

”That is what I suspect!” said Ingleborough, and he carefully examined the silver-gilt tip, but twisted and turned it in vain, for there seemed to be no way of opening it, till all at once he tried to twist the sheath portion beneath the double ring which divided hilt from sheath, when the handle turned for about half-an-inch and was then drawn off, disclosing a hollow sh.e.l.l lining which held another deposit of diamonds packed in cotton wool.

”More loot, gentlemen!” said the General, smiling. ”What comes next?”

”The flute,” cried two voices together, and Ingleborough opened the case, showing the three joints fitting tightly in the velvet-lined compartments.

”A silent musical instrument!” said the General, smiling.

”Can anyone play the overture to the Crown Diamonds?” said one of the _aides-de-camp_ merrily.

”This is the overture!” said another, and Ingleborough took out two joints in turn, perfectly empty, fitted them together, and then took out the top joint, to put that in its proper position, before raising the instrument to his lips and running up and down the gamut.

”Nothing there,” said the General.

But Ingleborough lowered the flute, held it in both hands, and drew it apart at the tuning-slide, held it sidewise, and then unscrewed the top plug, showing an opening, out of which he shook a magnificent gem of great size and perfect make.

”Bravo!” cried the General excitedly. And then: ”I'm afraid, Mr Dealer in mealies and corn, the judgment will go dead against you. Have you done?” he continued, turning to Ingleborough.