Page:Love Insurance - Earl Biggers (1914).djvu/363

332 "Oh—I'm beginning to see," said Allan slowly. "By the way, George, we've another score to settle with Wall."

He explained briefly how Wall had acquired Chain Lightning's Collar, and returned a duplicate of paste in its place. The elder Harrowby listened with serious face.

"It's no doubt the Collar he was trailing you for, Allan," he said. "And that's how he came to need the yacht. But when finally he got his eager fingers on those diamonds, poor old Wall must have had the shock of his life."

"How's that?"

"It wasn't Wall who had the duplicate made. It was—father—years ago, when I was still at home. He wanted money to bet, as usual—had the duplicate made—risked and lost."

"But," Allan objected, "he gave it to me to give to Miss Meyrick. Surely he wouldn't have done that"

"How old is he now? Eighty-two? Allan, the old boy must be a little childish by now—he forgot. I'm sure he forgot. That's the only view to take of it."