He had stolen the tiara, and had it concealed in the lining of
his hat. I rose and locked the door. My visitor sank with a groan into my
chair.
"'Why did you do that?' he stammered, as I turned the key in the lock.
"'To keep my Scotch whiskey from evaporating,' I said, dryly. 'Now, my
lord,' I added, 'it will pay your Grace to let me have your hat. I know
who you are. You are the Duke of Brokedale. The Duchess of Brokedale has
lost a valuable tiara of diamonds, and you have not lost your watch.
Somebody has stolen the diamonds, and it may be that somewhere there is a
Bunker who has lost such a watch as I have described. The queer part of it
all is,' I continued, handing him the decanter, and taking a couple of
loaded six-shooters out of my escritoire--'the queer part of it all is
that I have the watch and you have the tiara. We'll swap the swag. Hand
over the bauble, please.'
"'But--' he began.
"'We won't have any butting, your Grace,' said I. 'I'll give you the
watch, and you needn't mind the L200; and you must give me the tiara, or
I'll accompany you forthwith to the police, and have a search made of your
hat. It won't pay you to defy me. Give it up.'
"He gave up the hat at once, and, as I suspected, there lay the tiara,
snugly stowed away behind the head-band.
"'You are a great fellow.' said I, as I held the tiara up to the light and
watched with pleasure the flashing brilliance of its gems.
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