Page:Rowland--The closing net.djvu/80

66 I got on my feet and reached for my hat.

"Let's go down to the house," I said, "I want to look around."

John got up and we went out and whirled down to the Boulevard des Invalides. Neither of us spoke until we reached the Place de la Concorde. Then said I:

"John, I know what has happened to those pearls and I don't despair of getting them back. Not by a whole lot."

He gave me a startled look. "Well?" he asked.

"Some of my ex-pals know how you saved me from the law," said I, "and that I stopped for awhile in your house. They also know that your wife has fine jewels. Somebody has sized up the proposition for an easy one, knowing that you could hardly go to the police. Also, the thief counts on your suspecting me. Do you?"

John looked away. "Oh, no—not a bit," he answered, hesitating a trifle.

"I'm glad of that," said I; and added: "was Kharkoff playing last night, as usual?"

"Yes," growled John, "worse luck."

"You lost?"

He gave me a quick look, then grunted: "Oh, a trifle."

Neither of us spoke until we reached the house, where we found Edith and Miss Dalghren on the terrace. The girl's face was pale and I thought she seemed a little embarrassed at seeing me. But Edith's clear, steady eyes were as steady as ever, and she gave me a good grip of the hand.

"This is horrid, Frank," said she. "It makes