Page:Rowland--The closing net.djvu/129

Rh My friend, they might have killed me at that moment had they guessed their chance. There were two great rubies and an emerald. Never have I seen their like.

I scarcely looked at them and dropped them into my pocket.

"So," said I, "and here is a little surprise. Undeclared contraband, is it not, M. de Comte?"

Ivan nodded. His face had gone hard as stone.

"We will confiscate it as security against the pearls," said I. These stones are easily worth twice their value. It is no loss to you, M. de Comte, as except for me you never would have known of them. Now listen to me, both of you. I have said that I was through with theft and I mean it. I don't know where these gems came from and I care less, but I am going to keep them as security until you hand over the pearls. When you do that you can have the stones. I am no longer a thief, but neither am I a member of the police. Permit me to restore to M. de Tondeur his other effects. Leave them on the desk. The search has gone far enough." I looked at Ivan. "I consider that I have done you a service, monsieur," said I.

His eyes narrowed but he did not answer.

The search had disclosed the fact that Chu-Chu was unarmed. He had not even a knife. Keeping them both covered I walked to Ivan's desk, where in a half-opened drawer I found, as I had expected, a pistol similar to my own.

"A mere precaution against my retreat," I said, and took it out and slipped it into my pocket. "Now, gentlemen, I will wish you a good morning.