CHAPTER XV. CHANBURY DECIDES
WHILE The Shadow was finishing his investigation in Manhattan, Henshew and Chanbury were at the latter's Long Island home. They were seated in the downstairs portrait room; between them lay opened jewel cases, with a fine array of gems.
Chanbury was inspecting the disguised stones that had once been Silsam's. He seemed totally oblivious to the bold game that Henshew was playing. He questioned the price of the collection. Henshew set it at a quarter million.
"I should like to buy them -"
Chanbury hesitated, to shake his head. If he expected Henshew to bargain, he missed a guess. Henshew was avoiding that. Moreover, he had noted the reluctant tone of Chanbury's voice. Henshew sat back and let Chanbury study the gems again.
After some twenty minutes, Chanbury still seemed uncertain, Henshew calmly put the gems back in their cases, remarking:
"I can bring them here again. It would be well, perhaps, to inform Inspector Cardona -"
His tone was almost a warning. Chanbury laughed as he clapped Henshew's shoulder.
"I won't make Silsam's mistake," said Chanbury. "He dealt with an impostor. I am dealing with the most reputable jewel merchant in this country!"
Henshew expressed his appreciation of Chanbury's compliment. He tried to pass it off with feigned modesty. That merely brought new praise from Chanbury.
"Your opinion is all I require," Chanbury told Henshew. "I know that your price is the right one. As for the police" - he shook his head - "frankly, I believe that all their moves are being watched. Where Cardona goes, crooks are apt to follow."
Chanbury glanced at his watch as though he had remembered something.
"It would be best for you to leave," he said, "if we are to keep this matter confidential. I expect an unwanted visitor - that private detective, Tyrune."
"Why is he coming here?" questioned Henshew, in a surprised tone.
"To check over those lists of Silsam's gems," explained Chanbury. "They want a better description. How they expect me to give one is a puzzle. The lists were far more detailed than any description that I can give."
THE statement pleased Henshew. At Chanbury's suggestion, he shoved the jewel cases into inside pockets so that none of the servants could see them. Eleanor was absent tonight; Henshew had made sure that it was the secretary's night off, before he arranged the visit.
"You are the one who must be careful," warned Chanbury. "You are carrying a valuable cargo."
"I am going straight to the office," returned Henshew. "They are waiting there for me, to put the gems in the vault."
Chanbury seemed reluctant because he had postponed the purchase. He stopped Henshew at the door and questioned:
"If I decide to buy, would you require cash?"
Henshew smiled, queried: "What else have you?"
Chanbury beckoned him to the desk. From deep in a drawer, he produced a chamois bag and poured its contents into the light. Henshew saw rough, uncut diamonds in a quantity that amazed him.
"I have gathered these for years," remarked Chanbury, "but they give me very little satisfaction. I should prefer finished stones, instead. I also like variety. I have been told that these uncut diamonds are worth close to two hundred thousand dollars."
Henshew examined the uncut gems. He spoke frankly when he said:
"They are worth more. At least a quarter million. They would do as payment for the gems that you saw tonight."
"I shall consider it."
Chanbury walked to the door with Henshew; he asked when his visitor could call again.
"I am going to Philadelphia to appraise some gems tomorrow," said Henshew. "Any other evening would do."
"I shall be at home every night this week."
The doorknob was turning as Chanbury reached for it. That door had been ajar, but neither man had noticed it. As the two stepped into the outside gallery, darkness moved ahead of them. Lights were dim; the occurrence escaped observation. That darkness blocked itself beneath the marble stairs before Chanbury and Henshew arrived there.
A servant ushered Henshew up the long, curved stairs. Chanbury went back to his portrait room. After ten minutes, another caller arrived. The man was Tyrune. He went through to Chanbury's room; the servant who conducted him returned upstairs.
Darkness stirred beneath the marble staircase. A silent gliding shape, The Shadow followed the gallery, to reach the door of Chanbury's portrait room. The Shadow had traveled here ahead of Tyrune, arriving soon enough to witness the finish of Henshew's visit. He had a present opportunity to view what followed.
Under The Shadow's expert pressure, the knob of Chanbury's door turned slowly. The door itself moved imperceptibly inward. Through a narrow crack, The Shadow saw and heard all that happened within.
"HENSHEW is a crook!" The firm words were Chanbury's. "Without a question, Jim. Look" - busy at his desk, Chanbury passed over papers that he was rapidly writing - "see these lists. They describe the gems that Henshew showed me tonight. They are the ones that were stolen from Silsam's!"
"They don't tally with Silsam's gems."
"Of course not! But you have just told me that you found mountings in Henshew's desk drawer. Can't you see what the rogue had done? He cut those gems; changed their settings."
Tyrune was still doubtful. Chanbury brought out a list of Silsam's collection. He spoke triumphantly.
"The total tallies. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires - even the little diamonds. That's one trick Henshew missed. How can he explain that his gems number the same as Silsam's?"
Tyrune was impressed. Chanbury drove home another point.
"What price do you think Henshew gave my uncut diamonds? A quarter million! Because I hoaxed him into it, by saying they were worthless. He'd be glad to take them for those planted jewels that have been going the rounds. Of course he would. My uncut diamonds have been appraised at four hundred thousand dollars. Henshew mistook me for an eighteen carat sucker."
Chanbury reached for the desk telephone.
"I'm calling Inspector Cardona."
Tyrune shook his head.
"What can you prove against Henshew?" he questioned. "After all, his gems don't fit the weak description that we have of Silsam's. Henshew is safe. He can deny everything."
Chanbury settled back in his chair. He thought over what Tyrune had said. He picked up a key that Tyrune had laid on the desk.
"If you had only brought back more evidence, Jim," he said, "we could pin the goods on Henshew. I'll label this pass-key Exhibit A; but it means very little. I hoped that you'd find clues in the apartment, while I was holding Henshew here."
"Here's the whole layout, Mr. Chanbury." Tyrune produced the notebook. "But you told me not to disturb anything. So I didn't. I didn't think it wise to pinch any of those things in the desk drawer.
Henshew might have missed them."
"Yes, he probably would have."
Chanbury's face was troubled. Tyrune made a suggestion.
"How about going through with the deal?" asked the dick. "Let Henshew sell you those gems. Then be ready when Shark comes to get them. If Henshew's the crook, Shark will surely show up, later."
"I've had that idea," returned Chanbury. "I'm in deep, though. If I give Henshew the uncut diamonds, he will make so huge a profit that he may be satisfied. Then there would be no attempted robbery."
That stumped Tyrune. Chanbury arose and paced the floor impatiently, shoving his fingers through his graystreaked hair. At last he stopped, with a snap of his fingers.
"I'll call Henshew tomorrow! I'll tell him that I intend to keep my uncut diamonds. I'll say that I want his gems anyway; that I've raised the cash to buy them outright."
"That may make him suspicious -"
"Let it. The harder he's pressed, the more chance he'll make a mistake. His nerve is colossal! He proved that tonight. Yes, I think the shift in our game will be just the thing to settle Madden Henshew."