“There are the pearls still,” she cried, delighted with the success of her surprise; “each bead is a great pearl from the famous necklace of the Princess Tzan, dipped in some substance which protected it from the fire.” She drew them off the wires, putting them beside the glittering stones already in the dish. One she retained and began to scrape it with her knife; the covering flaked away, leaving a great rosy pearl.
“Princess, you may not know it, but you have a fortune here,” said the Duke. “Even I have never seen such rubies; they are of the true pigeon’s blood, worth a king’s ransom.”
“It is said, Monsieur, that a Prince Shulimoff who lived in Catherine the Second’s time was granted rights over all the Russian lands that lie adjacent to Persia. It is believed that he got these during his Khanship there.”
The Duke nodded. “I do not doubt it; the Shah himself has no better stones than these.” His long, elegant fingers played with the pile. Red, green, and blue, the stones glittered under the big electrolier — a dazzling sight which held them fascinated.
“And now,” said Marie Lou, “I wish that you all should choose such stones as you may like to be keepsakes of our days in Russia.”
They drew away shyly. Marie Lou’s mouth drooped with disappointment.
“Princess,” said De Richleau, voicing all their thoughts, “this is your fortune; on it we trust that you may live in happiness for many years. We could not rob you of your inheritance.”
“Oh, please,” she begged, “it will spoil it all for me if you do not- — had it not been for you I should still be at Romanovsk.”
She looked so disappointed that Richard bent forward and picked up a square diamond from the pile.
“I will keep it for you in trust, Marie Lou,” he said, smiling. “I shall treasure it always because it comes from you, but if you ever need it, it is yours.” She squeezed his hand gratefully, and his pulse raced at the pressure of her tiny hand in his. The others each picked a jewel in turn, with the same reservation.
“Say,” Rex grunted, “this packet’s going in the hotel safe tonight; we’ve had all the trouble we’re needing for a while.”
A waiter stood beside De Richleau. “The gentleman you were inquiring for has just gone into the grill, sir.”
“Thank you.” The Duke carefully placed the beautiful ruby he had chosen in his waistcoat pocket. “Be good enough to inform me when he goes up to his room.”
Rex took Marie Lou’s hand “Come on,” he said, “let’s hit the floor again.”
He was teaching her the gentle art of modern dancing. Like most Americans, he had such a perfect sense of rhythm that it was impossible not to follow him. Richard sat watching and wished that he could dance as well. Marie Lou seemed to be picking it up easily and quickly, but he knew that it was too soon for him to attempt to dance with her yet, and he was too wise to try — let her learn with Rex. When they returned to the table Gerry Bruce took up his glass. “Well, fellers,” he declared, “as I’m the one and only guest, it’s up to me to give a bit of a toast”
“Hear, hear!” Simon filled up the glasses with champagne.
Gerry lifted his glass. “May Russia freeze the Bolshies, and may you all live to give your old friend Gerry Bruce many another good dinner in the years to come. How’s that?”
They drank it with enthusiasm. A little later Marie Lou turned to Richard. “Would you mind very much if I went to bed?”
“But it’s early,” he protested.
“I’m tired,” she said.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, just as you like.”
She rose from the table and he followed her out into the hall. “I’ve hardly seen you alone all day,” he said reproachfully, as she was about to enter the lift.
“I’m sorry,” she smiled sweetly at him, “but I’m tired; I want to go to bed.”
“What about tomorrow?” he asked. “I thought we might get a car and go for a drive. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
She shook her head. “No, tomorrow I mean to have a long morning in bed.”
“Right-o, if that’s how you feel,” he said, a little sulkily. “What about lunch?”
“I will lunch in my room, I think.”
“Dear me,” he raised his eyebrows; “well, if you change your mind, let me know. Good night,” he turned away abruptly.
The Duke and Rex were with the manager. They had tied up the jewels in a napkin, and were now transferring them into three stout envelopes, to be sealed with wax before being deposited in the hotel safe.
Gerry Bruce bade them good night and left. The four friends remained standing in the hall. Simon limped to the hall porter’s desk and asked for his key; the man gave it to him, and with it a letter.
“Hullo,” he said, “wonder who this is from — no one but my office knows where I am.”
There was a second envelope inside the first. “Letter addressed to Miriam’s house,” he remarked to Richard. “Can’t think who can have written to me there; she sent it on to the office.”
“It’s got a Russian stamp,” said the Duke with interest.
“Valeria Petrovna!” exclaimed Simon, looking at the large sheets covered with a round, childish hand. “This is awkward; she warns us that Leshkin is applying for extradition papers.”
“I have reason to know that they will not be executed,” remarked De Richleau, with a little smile.
“Say, are you sure of that?” asked Rex.
“Quite certain,” the Duke answered firmly. “I am taking steps to ensure that we shall not be troubled with any unpleasantness of that kind.”
“Great business,” grinned Rex. “Well, I’m for hitting the hay; I’ve had quite enough hectic business to last me for some little time.” He yawned loudly as he turned towards the lift.
“I will go with you,” said the Duke.
“Hope the thought of those pretty toys of Marie Lou’s don’t keep you from your sleep,” said Rex.
De Richleau had just exchanged a few words in a low tone with the hall porter. He smiled. “I think I shall read for a while; I have found a most interesting book on the subject of murder, the theory of the game as opposed to the practice causes me considerable amusement.”
Simon had just finished reading his letter. He held it in one hand, stooping a little as he smiled at Richard, who was getting into his coat preparatory to leaving the hotel.
“She wants me to meet her in Berlin next month — that is, if we don’t get extradited!” He laughed his jerky little laugh into the palm of his hand.
“Shall you go?” asked Richard, curiously.
Simon nodded his clever, narrow head up and down. “Got to — Valeria’s in a muddle with her contracts — have to see what I can do.”
IV
Richard was disturbed and unhappy as he made his way slowly to his hotel. Could Marie Lou be getting spoilt, he wondered. Why must she go rushing off to bed like that, having danced half the evening with Rex — he had hardly had a word with her all day. And then this absurd business of stopping in bed all the next morning; there were so many things in Vienna he wanted to show her. Lunching in bed, too! It really was the limit.... Could it be the jewels that had made the difference?... She was independent of him now. Tomorrow he supposed she would be asking him to see about the annulment of their marriage — of course he’d have to set her free — he couldn’t hold her to it. But how he wished that he could.