learnt in books?”
On his way home Mr. Rolles purchased a work on pre-
“You put me in a difficulty,” said the stranger. “I confess cious stones and several of Gaboriau’s novels. These last I have no great notion of the use of books, except to amuse he eagerly skimmed until an advanced hour in the morn-a railway journey; although, I believe, there are some very ing; but although they introduced him to many new ideas, exact treatises on astronomy, the use of the globes, agri-he could nowhere discover what to do with a stolen dia-culture, and the art of making paper flowers. Upon the less mond. He was annoyed, moreover, to find the information apparent provinces of life I fear you will find nothing truth-scattered amongst romantic story-telling, instead of soberly ful. Yet stay,” he added, “have you read Gaboriau?” set forth after the manner of a manual; and he concluded 100
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that, even if the writer had thought much upon these sub-Mr. Raeburn’s house was on that day to be closed by the jects, he was totally lacking in educational method. For the police, and this afforded a pretext for his departure. He character and attainments of Lecoq, however, he was un-cheerfully prepared his baggage, transported it to King’s able to contain his admiration.
Cross, where he left it in the cloak-room, and returned to
“He was truly a great creature,” ruminated Mr. Rolles.
the club to while away the afternoon and dine.
“He knew the world as I know Paley’s Evidences. There
“If you dine here to-day, Rolles,” observed an acquain-was nothing that he could not carry to a termination with tance, “you may see two of the most remarkable men in his own hand, and against the largest odds. Heavens!” he England – Prince Florizel of Bohemia, and old Jack broke out suddenly, “is not this the lesson? Must I not learn Vandeleur.”
to cut diamonds for myself?”
“I have heard of the Prince,” replied Mr. Rolles; “and It seemed to him as if he had sailed at once out of his General Vandeleur I have even met in society.” perplexities; he remembered that he knew a jeweller, one
“General Vandeleur is an ass!” returned the other. “This B. Macculloch, in Edinburgh, who would be glad to put is his brother John, the biggest adventurer, the best judge him in the way of the necessary training; a few months, of precious stones, and one of the most acute diplomatists perhaps a few years, of sordid toil, and he would be suffi-in Europe. Have you never heard of his duel with the Duc ciently expert to divide and sufficiently cunning to dispose de Val d’Orge? of his exploits and atrocities when he was with advantage of the Rajah’s Diamond. That done, he Dictator of Paraguay? of his dexterity in recovering Sir might return to pursue his researches at leisure, a wealthy Samuel Levi’s jewellery? nor of his services in the Indian and luxurious student, envied and respected by all. Golden Mutiny – services by which the Government profited, but visions attended him through his slumber, and he awoke which the Government dared not recognise? You make me refreshed and light-hearted with the morning sun.
wonder what we mean by fame, or even by infamy; for 101
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Jack Vandeleur has prodigious claims to both. Run down-appearance that of a swift, violent, unscrupulous man of stairs,” he continued, “take a table near them, and keep action; and his copious white hair and the deep sabre-cut your ears open. You will hear some strange talk, or I am that traversed his nose and temple added a note of sav-much misled.”
agery to a head already remarkable and menacing in itself.
“But how shall I know them?” inquired the clergyman.
In his companion, the Prince of Bohemia, Mr. Rolles was
“Know them!” cried his friend; “why, the Prince is the astonished to recognise the gentleman who had recom-finest gentleman in Europe, the only living creature who mended him the study of Gaboriau. Doubtless Prince Florizel, looks like a king; and as for Jack Vandeleur, if you can who rarely visited the club, of which, as of most others, he imagine Ulysses at seventy years of age, and with a sabre-was an honorary member, had been waiting for John cut across his face, you have the man before you! Know Vandeleur when Simon accosted him on the previous evening.
them, indeed! Why, you could pick either of them out of a The other diners had modestly retired into the angles of Derby day!”
the room, and left the distinguished pair in a certain isola-Rolles eagerly hurried to the dining-room. It was as his tion, but the young clergyman was unrestrained by any sen-friend had asserted; it was impossible to mistake the pair in timent of awe, and, marching boldly up, took his place at question. Old John Vandeleur was of a remarkable force of the nearest table.
body, and obviously broken to the most difficult exercises.
The conversation was, indeed, new to the student’s ears.
He had neither the carriage of a swordsman, nor of a sailor, The ex-Dictator of Paraguay stated many extraordinary nor yet of one much inured to the saddle; but something experiences in different quarters of the world; and the Prince made up of all these, and the result and expression of many supplied a commentary which, to a man of thought, was different habits and dexterities. His features were bold and even more interesting than the events themselves. Two aquiline; his expression arrogant and predatory; his whole forms of experience were thus brought together and laid 102
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before the young clergyman; and he did not know which to
“I speak on grounds of public policy,” pursued the Prince.
admire the most – the desperate actor or the skilled expert
“Jewels so valuable should be reserved for the collection in life; the man who spoke boldly of his own deeds and of a Prince or the treasury of a great nation. To hand them perils, or the man who seemed, like a god, to know all about among the common sort of men is to set a price on things and to have suffered nothing. The manner of each Virtue’s head; and if the Rajah of Kashgar – a Prince, I aptly fitted with his part in the discourse. The Dictator in-understand, of great enlightenment -desired vengeance dulged in brutalities alike of speech and gesture; his hand upon the men of Europe, he could hardly have gone more opened and shut and fell roughly on the table; and his voice efficaciously about his purpose than by sending us this apple was loud and heavy. The Prince, on the other hand, seemed of discord. There is no honesty too robust for such a trial.
the very type of urbane docility and quiet; the least move-I myself, who have many duties and many privileges of my ment, the least inflection, had with him a weightier signifi-own – I myself, Mr. Vandeleur, could scarce handle the cance than all the shouts and pantomime of his companion; intoxicating crystal and be safe. As for you, who are a dia-and if ever, as must frequently have been the case, he de-mond hunter by taste and profession, I do not believe there scribed some experience personal to himself, it was so aptly is a crime in the calendar you would not perpetrate – I do dissimulated as to pass unnoticed with the rest.
not believe you have a friend in the world whom you would At length the talk wandered on to the late robberies and not eagerly betray – I do not know if you have a family, but the Rajah’s Diamond.
if you have I declare you would sacrifice your children –
“That diamond would be better in the sea,” observed and all this for what? Not to be richer, nor to have more Prince Florizel.
comforts or more respect, but simply to call this diamond
“As a Vandeleur,” replied the Dictator, “your Highness yours for a year or two until you die, and now and again to may imagine my dissent.”
open a safe and look at it as one looks at a picture.” 103
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“It is true,” replied Vandeleur. “I have hunted most things, and unpleasantly, for he desired to see no more of the dia-from men and women down to mosquitos; I have dived for mond hunter.
coral; I have followed both whales and tigers; and a dia-Much study having somewhat shaken the young man’s mond is the tallest quarry of the lot. It has beauty and worth; nerves, he was in the habit of travelling in the most luxuri-it alone can properly reward the ardours of the chase. At ous manner; and for the present journey he had taken a this moment, as your Highness may fancy, I am upon the sofa in the sleeping carriage.
trail; I have a sure knack, a wide experience; I know every
“You will be very comfortable,” said the guard; “there is stone of price in my brother’s collection as a shepherd no one in your compartment, and only one old gentleman knows his sheep; and I wish I may die if I do not recover in the other end.”
them every one!”
It was close upon the hour, and the tickets were being
“Sir Thomas Vandeleur will have great cause to thank examined, when Mr. Rolles beheld this other fellow-passen-you,” said the Prince.
ger ushered by several porters into his place; certainly, there
“I am not so sure,” returned the Dictator, with a laugh.
was not another man in the world whom he would not have
“One of the Vandeleurs will. Thomas or John – Peter or preferred – for it was old John Vandeleur, the ex-Dictator.
Paul – we are all apostles.”
The sleeping carriages on the Great Northern line were
“I did not catch your observation,” said the Prince with divided into three compartments – one at each end for trav-some disgust.
ellers, and one in the centre fitted with the conveniences of And at the same moment the waiter informed Mr.
a lavatory. A door running in grooves separated each of Vandeleur that his cab was at the door.
the others from the lavatory; but as there were neither bolts Mr. Rolles glanced at the clock, and saw that he also nor locks, the whole suite was practically common ground.
must be moving; and the coincidence struck him sharply When Mr. Rolles had studied his position, he perceived 104
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himself without defence. If the Dictator chose to pay him a The train pursued its usual even and rapid course; and visit in the course of the night, he could do no less than nearly half the journey had been accomplished before slum-receive it; he had no means of fortification, and lay open to ber began to triumph over uneasiness in the breast of Mr.
attack as if he had been lying in the fields. This situation Rolles. For some time he resisted its influence; but it grew caused him some agony of mind. He recalled with alarm upon him more and more, and a little before York he was the boastful statements of his fellow-traveller across the fain to stretch himself upon one of the couches and suffer dining-table, and the professions of immorality which he his eyes to close; and almost at the same instant conscious-had heard him offering to the disgusted Prince. Some per-ness deserted the young clergyman. His last thought was sons, he remembered to have read, are endowed with a of his terrifying neighbour.
singular quickness of perception for the neighbourhood of When he awoke it was still pitch dark, except for the precious metals; through walls and even at considerable flicker of the veiled lamp; and the continual roaring and distances they are said to divine the presence of gold. Might oscillation testified to the unrelaxed velocity of the train.
it not be the same with diamonds? he wondered; and if so, He sat upright in a panic, for he had been tormented by the who was more likely to enjoy this transcendental sense than most uneasy dreams; it was some seconds before he re-the person who gloried in the appellation of the Diamond covered his self-command; and even after he had resumed Hunter? From such a man he recognised that he had every-a recumbent attitude sleep continued to flee him, and he thing to fear, and longed eagerly for the arrival of the day.
lay awake with his brain in a state of violent agitation, and In the meantime he neglected no precaution, concealed his eyes fixed upon the lavatory door. He pulled his cleri-his diamond in the most internal pocket of a system of greatcal felt hat over his brow still farther to shield him from the coats, and devoutly recommended himself to the care of light; and he adopted the usual expedients, such as count-Providence.
ing a thousand or banishing thought, by which experienced 105
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invalids are accustomed to woo the approach of sleep. In of the lavatory replaced.
the case of Mr. Rolles they proved one and all vain; he was The Dictator had not come to attack, but to observe; harassed by a dozen different anxieties – the old man in the his action was not that of a man threatening another, but other end of the carriage haunted him in the most alarming that of a man who was himself threatened; if Mr. Rolles shapes; and in whatever attitude he chose to lie the dia-was afraid of him, it appeared that he, in his turn, was not mond in his pocket occasioned him a sensible physical dis-quite easy on the score of Mr. Rolles. He had come, it tress. It burned, it was too large, it bruised his ribs; and would seem, to make sure that his only fellow-traveller there were infinitesimal fractions of a second in which he was asleep; and, when satisfied on that point, he had at had half a mind to throw it from the window.
once withdrawn.
While he was thus lying, a strange incident took place.
The clergyman leaped to his feet. The extreme of terror The sliding-door into the lavatory stirred a little, and had given place to a reaction of foolhardy daring. He re-then a little more, and was finally drawn back for the space flected that the rattle of the flying train concealed all other of about twenty inches. The lamp in the lavatory was un-sounds, and determined, come what might, to return the shaded, and in the lighted aperture thus disclosed, Mr.
visit he had just received. Divesting himself of his cloak, Rolles could see the head of Mr. Vandeleur in an attitude which might have interfered with the freedom of his ac-of deep attention. He was conscious that the gaze of the tion, he entered the lavatory and paused to listen. As he Dictator rested intently on his own face; and the instinct had expected, there was nothing to be heard above the of self-preservation moved him to hold his breath, to re-roar of the train’s progress; and laying his hand on the door frain from the least movement, and keeping his eyes low-at the farther side, he proceeded cautiously to draw it back ered, to watch his visitor from underneath the lashes. After for about six inches. Then he stopped, and could not con-about a moment, the head was withdrawn and the door tain an ejaculation of surprise.
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John Vandeleur wore a fur travelling cap with lappets to not until after considerable manoeuvring that he extricated protect his ears; and this may have combined with the sound a large tiara of diamonds from the lining, and held it up for of the express to keep him in ignorance of what was going some seconds’ examination before he placed it with the forward. It is certain, at least, that he did not raise his head, others in the hat-box. The tiara was a ray of light to Mr.
but continued without interruption to pursue his strange Rolles; he immediately recognised it for a part of the trea-employment. Between his feet stood an open hat-box; in sure stolen from Harry Hartley by the loiterer. There was one hand he held the sleeve of his sealskin great-coat; in no room for mistake; it was exactly as the detective had the other a formidable knife, with which he had just slit up described it; there were the ruby stars, with a great emer-the lining of the sleeve. Mr. Rolles had read of persons ald in the centre; there were the interlacing crescents; and carrying money in a belt; and as he had no acquaintance there were the pear-shaped pendants, each a single stone, with any but cricket-belts, he had never been able rightly which gave a special value to Lady Vandeleur’s tiara.
to conceive how this was managed. But here was a stranger Mr. Rolles was hugely relieved. The Dictator was as thing before his eyes; for John Vandeleur, it appeared, car-deeply in the affair as he was; neither could tell tales upon ried diamonds in the lining of his sleeve; and even as the the other. In the first glow of happiness, the clergyman young clergyman gazed, he could see one glittering bril-suffered a deep sigh to escape him; and as his bosom had liant drop after another into the hat-box.
become choked and his throat dry during his previous sus-He stood riveted to the spot, following this unusual busi-pense, the sigh was followed by a cough.
ness with his eyes. The diamonds were, for the most part, Mr. Vandeleur looked up; his face contracted with the small, and not easily distinguishable either in shape or fire.
blackest and most deadly passion; his eyes opened widely, Suddenly the Dictator appeared to find a difficulty; he and his under jaw dropped in an astonishment that was employed both hands and stooped over his task; but it was upon the brink of fury. By an instinctive movement he had 107
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covered the hat-box with the coat. For half a minute the
“I was pleased to observe,” resumed the young man, “that two men stared upon each other in silence. It was not a we have gems from the same collection.” long interval, but it sufficed for Mr. Rolles; he was one of The Dictator’s surprise overpowered him.
those who think swiftly on dangerous occasions; he de-
“I beg your pardon,” he said; “I begin to perceive that I cided on a course of action of a singularly daring nature; am growing old! I am positively not prepared for little in-and although he felt he was setting his life upon the hazard, cidents like this. But set my mind at rest upon one point: he was the first to break silence.
do my eyes deceive me, or are you indeed a parson?”
“I beg your pardon,” said he.
“I am in holy orders,” answered Mr. Rolles.
The Dictator shivered slightly, and when he spoke his
“Well,” cried the other, “as long as I live I will never hear voice was hoarse.
another word against the cloth!”
“What do you want here?” he asked.
“You flatter me,” said Mr. Rolles.
“I take a particular interest in diamonds,” replied Mr.
“Pardon me,” replied Vandeleur; “pardon me, young man.
Rolles, with an air of perfect self-possession. “Two con-You are no coward, but it still remains to be seen whether noisseurs should be acquainted. I have here a trifle of my you are not the worst of fools. Perhaps,” he continued, own which may perhaps serve for an introduction.” leaning back upon his seat, “perhaps you would oblige me And so saying, he quietly took the case from his pocket, with a few particulars. I must suppose you had some ob-showed the Rajah’s Diamond to the Dictator for an inject in the stupefying impudence of your proceedings, and stant, and replaced it in security.
I confess I have a curiosity to know it.”
“It was once your brother’s,” he added.
“It is very simple,” replied the clergyman; “it proceeds John Vandeleur continued to regard him with a look of from my great inexperience of life.” almost painful amazement; but he neither spoke nor moved.
“I shall be glad to be persuaded,” answered Vandeleur.
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Whereupon Mr. Rolles told him the whole story of his lieve without vanity that I could have married or baptized connection with the Rajah’s Diamond, from the time he you in a very acceptable manner; but every man has his found it in Raeburn’s garden to the time when he left Lon-own aptitudes, and this sort of bargain was not among the don in the Flying Scotchman. He added a brief sketch of list of my accomplishments.”
his feelings and thoughts during the journey, and concluded
“I do not wish to flatter you,” replied Vandeleur; “but in these words:–
upon my word, you have an unusual disposition for a life
“When I recognised the tiara I knew we were in the same of crime. You have more accomplishments than you imag-attitude towards Society, and this inspired me with a hope, ine; and though I have encountered a number of rogues in which I trust you will say was not ill-founded, that you different quarters of the world, I never met with one so might become in some sense my partner in the difficulties unblushing as yourself. Cheer up, Mr. Rolles, you are in and, of course, the profits of my situation. To one of your the right profession at last! As for helping you, you may special knowledge and obviously great experience the ne-command me as you will. I have only a day’s business in gotiation of the diamond would give but little trouble, while Edinburgh on a little matter for my brother; and once that to me it was a matter of impossibility. On the other part, I is concluded, I return to Paris, where I usually reside. If judged that I might lose nearly as much by cutting the dia-you please, you may accompany me thither. And before mond, and that not improbably with an unskilful hand, as the end of a month I believe I shall have brought your little might enable me to pay you with proper generosity for business to a satisfactory conclusion.” your assistance. The subject was a delicate one to broach; and perhaps I fell short in delicacy. But I must ask you to (At this point, contrary to all the canons of his art, our remember that for me the situation was a new one, and I Arabian author breaks off the Story of the Young Man in was entirely unacquainted with the etiquette in use. I beHoly Orders. I regret and condemn such practices; but I 109
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must follow my original, and refer the reader for the con-STORY OF THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN BLINDS
clusion of Mr. Rolles’ adventures to the next number of the cycle, the Story of the House with the Green Blinds.) FRANCIS SCRYMGEOUR, a clerk in the Bank of Scotland at Edinburgh, had attained the age of twenty-five in a sphere of quiet, creditable, and domestic life. His mother died while he was young; but his father, a man of sense and probity, had given him an excellent education at school, and brought him up at home to orderly and frugal habits. Francis, who was of a docile and affectionate disposition, profited by these advantages with zeal, and devoted himself heart and soul to his employment. A walk upon Saturday afternoon, an occasional dinner with members of his family, and a yearly tour of a fortnight in the Highlands or even on the continent of Europe, were his principal distractions, and, he grew rapidly in favour with his superiors, and enjoyed already a salary of nearly two hundred pounds a year, with the prospect of an ultimate advance to almost double that amount. Few young men were more contented, few more willing and laborious than Francis Scrymgeour. Sometimes at night, when he had read the daily paper, he would play upon the flute to amuse his father, for whose qualities he entertained a great respect.
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One day he received a note from a well-known firm of Francis asked their nature.
Writers to the Signet, requesting the favour of an immedi-
“The conditions,” said the Writer to the Signet, “are, as I ate interview with him. The letter was marked “Private have twice remarked, neither dishonourable nor excessive.
and Confidential,” and had been addressed to him at the At the same time I cannot conceal from you that they are bank, instead of at home – two unusual circumstances which most unusual. Indeed, the whole case is very much out of made him obey the summons with the more alacrity. The our way; and I should certainly have refused it had it not senior member of the firm, a man of much austerity of been for the reputation of the gentleman who entrusted it manner, made him gravely welcome, requested him to take to my care, and, let me add, Mr. Scrymgeour, the interest I a seat, and proceeded to explain the matter in hand in the have been led to take in yourself by many complimentary picked expressions of a veteran man of business. A per-and, I have no doubt, well-deserved reports.” son, who must remain nameless, but of whom the lawyer Francis entreated him to be more specific.
had every reason to think well – a man, in short, of some
“You cannot picture my uneasiness as to these condi-station in the country – desired to make Francis an annual tions,” he said.
allowance of five hundred pounds. The capital was to be
“They are two,” replied the lawyer, “only two; and the placed under the control of the lawyer’s firm and two sum, as you will remember, is five hundred a-year – and trustees who must also remain anonymous. There were unburdened, I forgot to add, unburdened.” conditions annexed to this liberality, but he was of opin-And the lawyer raised his eyebrows at him with solemn ion that his new client would find nothing either exces-gusto.
sive or dishonourable in the terms; and he repeated these
“The first,” he resumed, “is of remarkable simplicity. You two words with emphasis, as though he desired to com-must be in Paris by the afternoon of Sunday, the 15th; there mit himself to nothing more.
you will find, at the box-office of the Comedie Francaise, a 111
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ticket for admission taken in your name and waiting you.
me, and I failed to inquire; but if you like I will make a note You are requested to sit out the whole performance in the of it at once, and advise you on the earliest opportunity.” seat provided, and that is all.”
“Sir,” said Francis, “it remains to be seen whether this
“I should certainly have preferred a week-day,” replied whole affair is not a most unworthy fraud. The circum-Francis. “ But, after all, once in a way –” stances are inexplicable – I had almost said incredible; and
“And in Paris, my dear sir,” added the lawyer sooth-until I see a little more daylight, and some plausible mo-ingly. “I believe I am something of a precisian myself, but tive, I confess I should be very sorry to put a hand to the upon such a consideration, and in Paris, I should not hesi-transaction. I appeal to you in this difficulty for informa-tate an instant.”
tion. I must learn what is at the bottom of it all. If you do And the pair laughed pleasantly together.
not know, cannot guess, or are not at liberty to tell me, I
“The other is of more importance,” continued the Writer shall take my hat and go back to my bank as came.” to the Signet. “It regards your marriage. My client, taking
“I do not know,” answered the lawyer, “but I have an a deep interest in your welfare, desires to advise you abso-excellent guess. Your father, and no one else, is at the root lutely in the choice of a wife. Absolutely, you understand,” of this apparently unnatural business.” he repeated.
“My father!” cried Francis, in extreme disdain. “Wor-
“Let us be more explicit, if you please,” returned Francis.
thy man, I know every thought of his mind, every penny
“Am I to marry any one, maid or widow, black or white, of his fortune!”
whom this invisible person chooses to propose?”
“You misinterpret my words,” said the lawyer. “I do not
“I was to assure you that suitability of age and position refer to Mr. Scrymgeour, senior; for he is not your father.
should be a principle with your benefactor,” replied the law-When he and his wife came to Edinburgh, you were alyer. “As to race, I confess the difficulty had not occurred to ready nearly one year old, and you had not yet been three 112
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months in their care. The secret has been well kept; but former life; and when once his mind was fairly made up, he such is the fact. Your father is unknown, and I say again walked with a new feeling of strength and freedom, and that I believe him to be the original of the offers I am charged nourished himself with the gayest anticipations.
at present to transmit to you.”
He said but a word to the lawyer, and immediately re-It would be impossible to exaggerate the astonishment ceived a cheque for two quarters’ arrears; for the allow-of Francis Scrymgeour at this unexpected information. He ance was ante-dated from the first of January. With this in pled this confusion to the lawyer.
his pocket, he walked home. The flat in Scotland Street
“Sir,” said he, “after a piece of news so startling, you looked mean in his eyes; his nostrils, for the first time, re-must grant me some hours for thought. You shall know belled against the odour of broth; and he observed little this evening what conclusion I have