Annie Haynes Premium Collection – 8 Murder Mysteries in One Volume. Annie Haynes

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СКАЧАТЬ felt sure you would,” Hilda responded with a grateful glance, “and I shall look forward so much to my visit.”

      Mrs. Mainwaring’s face shone with mingled pleasure and self-importance.

      “Now, when shall it be? I am afraid that next week—oh, here is Sir Arthur!”

      Sir Arthur looked round for Hilda, then, as she came forward a step behind Mrs. Mainwaring, he turned towards her.

      “This is the ‘Luck of the Hargreaves’,” with a laugh as he opened the case.

      Mrs. Mainwaring uttered a cry of amazement.

      “Oh, my dear Sir Arthur, I never imagined anything quite so magnificent!”

      Hilda did not speak, but her eyes were fixed on the gleaming stones with a curiously rapt expression, and one long, fluttering breath escaped her. The rest of the party gathered round, eager to have another look at the famous diamonds.

      Mrs. Mainwaring kept well in the front.

      “It is the big one in the centre that is really called the ‘Luck,’ isn’t it, Sir Arthur? I wonder how the name originated.”

      “I fancy the reason is lost in the mists of antiquity,” Sir Arthur said lightly, “but I believe the loss of the Blue Diamond would presage some fearful misfortune to all the Hargreaves. That is why we take such care of it. It is only worn on rare occasions by the wife of the head of the house, or by the bride of the heir on her wedding-day.”

      His eyes sought Hilda’s, but the girl did not respond to his glance, and apparently her whole attention was absorbed by the diamonds.

      The Hargreaves proudly claimed that their necklace was absolutely unique; certainly it was remarkable even when contrasted with the Crown jewels of modern reigning houses. It consisted of seven rows of diamonds, each row being clasped to the next one in front in the centre by a larger stone of great brilliance, and as a pendant to the lower one there gleamed resplendent, seeming almost like a living, burning flame as Arthur turned it about in the light, the great Blue Diamond — the “Luck” itself.

      “You must feel quite nervous when you are wearing them, Lady Laura,” Mrs. Mainwaring said at last, Lady Laura laughed.

      “I—I have never done so. Had my husband succeeded his brother I should have worn them, but as it is they are put by for Arthur’s wife.”

      “I see!”

      A sudden silence fell on the group. Mrs. Mainwaring, with questionable taste, looked across at Dorothy, who was just now smiling bravely at her cousin. Garth Davenant glanced significantly at Mavis. To his mind there was something curiously suggestive in the way in which Hilda was absorbed in the contemplation of the diamonds to the exclusion apparently of everything else. She and Dorothy were standing almost in a line, and it seemed to Davenant that even contrasted with Hilda’s loveliness the younger girl held her own.

      There had always been something spiritual in Dorothy’s beauty, and to-night a certain air of fragility about the small, flower-like head and the immature curves of her slim young body struck Davenant afresh with a sense of delicacy, enhanced as it was by a touch of languor in her whole pose, in her large clear eyes and softly curving lips.

      Hilda’s brilliant colouring was wont to overshadow and dwarf all other less striking beauty, but now as her eyes were fixed on the Blue Diamond her face was for the nonce off its guard, and Davenant noted not only a coarseness about the modeling of her features, but certain little lines about the mouth and eyes which convinced him that his estimate of her age was not unjust.

      Just as the pause was becoming oppressive Dr. Grieve bustled forward—the old man could always be relied upon to fill up an awkward interval.

      “I see you have not adopted the modern plan of sending your valuables to the bank, Sir Arthur? You still stick to your own safe and strong room.”

      “Oh, yes. I fancy they are more secure in my care than they would be in the bank,” Arthur smiled. “I assure you it would be a very difficult matter for thieves to break through and steal the ‘Luck,’ Dr. Grieve. Have you ever seen our strong-room? It was made before the days of jerry-building.”

      “No, I haven’t, but—” the doctor was beginning.

      Hilda interrupted him.

      “Do show it to us, Sir Arthur! It doesn’t seem to me that you could do enough to keep the treasure safe.”

      Lady Laura looked manifestly displeased. Sir Arthur hesitated, but a look at Hilda’s eager face decided him.

      “I will show it to any of you with pleasure. I shall have to put away the necklace myself, for we do not trust it to the servants, not even to one so trusted as Jenkins. So if you like to come with me, Dr. Grieve, I shall be delighted to exhibit our precautions to you.”

      “Oh, do let us all see them, Sir Arthur!” Mrs. Mainwaring pleaded. “It would be so interesting—quite a novel experience. You will go with us, will you not, Miss Dorothy?”

      The girl drew back.

      “I think not—thanks!” she said.

      Mrs. Mainwaring glanced round in indecision, but already Hilda and Dr. Grieve were at the door, and Garth Davenant was following. She moved forward.

      “You do not mind, Lady Laura?”

      “Certainly not!” said Lady Laura with a little air of coldness. “I hope you will find it as delightful as you imagine.”

      Mr. Mainwaring glanced meaningly at his wife; quite evidently he saw that the proposed expedition did not meet with Lady Laura’s favour; but with Mrs. Mainwaring, for once, curiosity overcame her fear of incurring Lady Laura’s displeasure, and she hurried after the others.

      Sir Arthur held open the green baize door which gave access to the back of the house, and led the way down a wide passage, stopping before a heavy oak door, which he unlocked. The door opened outwardly, and they saw inside a second one of metal.

      “This is the outer strong-room,” Sir Arthur said as he fitted the key,” where all the plate and valuables in daily use are kept. To it there are two keys—one I have and one Jenkins has. Now this is a different matter,” moving towards a smaller inner door at the opposite end. “This key is never out of my possession, and even should any unauthorized person get hold of it you see there is an electric alarm-bell which rings at the top of the house—one of my Uncle Noel’s latest improvements.” He switched it off as he spoke and drew out a small key. “Now, Mrs. Mainwaring, you are in the heart of the mystery.”

      They all glanced curiously round the small oblong room into which there was no opening save by the narrow doorway, and which was lined on three sides by iron cupboards.

      “Rather stuffy, isn’t it?” Arthur said as he went across. “But you would risk it, remember. Now this”—pointing to the wall, which was apparently blank—“is the real home of the necklace.” He touched a spring and the wall opened backwards, revealing a strong iron safe.

      “And this,” he went on, “is the crux of the whole matter.”

      He made a rapid movement with his hand and the door of the safe opened. He laid СКАЧАТЬ