The dream detective: being some account of the methods of Moris Klaw (11 page)

A maid entered the studio.

"A gentleman to see you, sir."

"Ask him to come along here."

A short interval—and Jean Colette entered, hat in hand!

"These two wedges, m'sieur"—he bowed to Paxton—"which help to attach the girdle. I forgot to return them. Adieu!"

He placed the wedges on a table and, amid a dramatic silence, withdrew.

Moris Klaw took out the cylindrical scent spray from the lining of the brown bowler.

"A true touch of Paris!" he rumbled. "Did I not say he was a great man?"

FIFTH EPISODE

CASE OF THE BLUE RAJAH

INSPECTOR GRIMSBY called upon me one evening, wearing a great glumness of countenance. "Look here/' said he, "I'm in a bit of a corner. You'll have heard that a committee of commercial magnates has been formed to buy. and on behalf of the City of London to present to the Crown, the big Indian diamond?"

I nodded and pushed the box of cigarettes toward him.

"Well," he continued, thoughtfully selecting one, "they are meeting in Moorgate Street to-morrow morning to complete the deal and formally take over the stone. Sir Michael Cayley, the Lord Mayor, will be present, and he's received a letter, which has been passed on to me."

He fumbled for his pocket-case. Grimsby is a man who will go far. He is the youngest detective-inspector in the service, and he has that priceless gift—the art of using other people for the furtherance of his own ends. I do not intend this criticism un-

kindly. Grimsby does nothing dishonourable and seeks to rob no man of the credit that may be due. There is nothing underhand about Grimsby, but he is exceedingly diplomatic. He imparts official secrets to me with an ingenuousness entirely disarming—but always for reasons of his own.

"Here you are," he said, and passed a letter to me.

It read as follows:

" To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London.

"My Lord:

"Beware that the Blue Rajah is not stolen on Wednesday the 13th inst. Do not lose sight of it for one moment.

"Your Lordship's obedient servant,

"Moris Klaw."

"You see," continued Grimsby, "Wednesday the thirteenth is to-morrow, when the thing is being brought to Moorgate Street. Naturally, Sir Michael communicated with the Yard, and as I'm in the know about Moris Klaw, I got the job of looking into the matter. I was at the Mansion House this morning."

"I suppose Sir Michael regards this note with suspicion?"

"Well, he's not silly enough to suppose that anybody who thought of stealing the diamond would drop him a line advising him of the matter! But he'd

never heard of Moris Klaw until I explained about him. When I told him that Klaw had a theory about the Cycle of Crime, and his letter probably meant that, according to said theory, on Wednesday the thirteenth the Blue Rajah was due to be lifted, so to speak, he laughed. You'll have noticed that people mostly laugh at first about Moris Klaw?"

"Certainly. You did, yourself!"

"I know it—and I'm suffering for it! Klaw won't lift his little finger when I ask him; and as for his daughter, she giggles as though she was looking at a comedian when she looks at me ! She thinks I'm properly funny!"

"You've been to Wapping, then?"

"Yes, this afternoon. The Lord Mayor wanted a lot of convincing that Moris Klaw was on the straight after I'd told him that the old gentleman was a dealer in curios in the East End. Finally, he suggested that I should find out what the warning meant exactly. But I couldn't get to see Klaw; his daughter said he was out."

"I suppose every precaution will be taken?' 1

"To-morrow morning we have arranged that I and two other C.I.D. men are to accompany the party to the safe deposit vaults to fetch the diamond and we shall guard it on the way back afterward."

"Who's going to fetch it?"

"Sir John Carron, representing the India Office, Mr. Mark Anderson—the expert—representing the

city, and Mr. Gautami Chinje, representing the Gaekwar of Nizam. I was wondering"—he surveyed the burning end of his cigarette—"if you had time to run down to Wapping yourself and find out from what direction we ought to look for trouble?"

"Sorry, Grimsby," I replied; "I would do it with pleasure, but my evening is fully taken up. Personally, it appears to me that Moris Klaw's warning was a timely one. You seem to be watching the stone pretty closely."

"Like a cat watches a mouse!" he rapped. "If any one steals the Blue Rajah to-morrow, he'll be a clever fellow."

11

Basinghall House, Moorgate Street, is built around a courtyard. You enter under an archway, and find offices before you, offices to right and offices to left. As a matter of fact, Basinghall House was designed for a hotel, but subsequently let off in suites of chambers. The offices of Messrs. Anderson & Brothers are on the left, as you enter, and from the window of the principal's sanctum you may look down into the courtyard.

The room chosen for the meeting on Wednesday morning, however, was one opening off this. In common with the adjoining office—as I have said, that of the principal—it had a second door, opening on a corridor. This latter door, however, was never

used and was always kept double-locked. Thus, the doorway from the other office was really its only means of entrance or egress. A large window offered a prospect of the courtyard.

At a quarter to eleven on Wednesday morning, Mr. Anderson (one of the City Aldermen) entered his own private office from the corridor. He was accompanied by Sir John Carron, Mr. Gautami Chini, and Inspector Grimsby. These three had come with him from the safe deposit vaults. Mr. Anderson had possession of the case containing the diamond.

In the office, already awaiting the party, were Sir Michael Cayley (the Lord Mayor); Mr. Morrison Dell, of the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company; Sir Vernon Rankin (ex-Lord Mayor); Mr. Werner, of the great engineering firm; and Mr. Anderson, junior. These constituted the Presentation Committee duly appointed by the City of London (excluding, of course, Sir John Carron, of the India Office; Mr. Chinje, representing the vendor of the jewel; and Mr. Grimsby, representing New Scotland Yard).

"We are all present, gentlemen," said Mr. Anderson. "But before we proceed to the business which brings us here, we will enter the inner room, where we shall be quite private/'

Accordingly the party of eight passed through the doorway; and Mr. Anderson, senior, entering last,

CASE OF THE BLUE RAJAH 129

relocked the door behind him. Inspector Grimsby remained alone in the private office.

Eight oaken chairs and a small oaken table bearing a pewter inkpot, two pens, and a blotting pad represent, with a square of red carpet and a framed photograph bearing the legend: "Jagersfontein Diamond Workings, Orange Free State, 1909," an inventory of the furniture.

The company being seated, Mr. Anderson, by the table, rose and said:

"Gentlemen, our business this morning can be briefly dealt with. I have here"—he produced a leather case, opened it, and placed it on the table before him—"the diamond known as the Blue Rajah. Its history may be summarized thus: It appeared in the year 1680 and is supposed to have been found in the Kollur Mine, on the Kostna. It had a weight of 254I carats in the rough, but was reduced to 132 carats in the cutting. It has been successively owned by Nadir Shah, Princess de Lambelle, the Sultan Abdul Hamid, Mr. Simon Rabstein of New York, and, finally, the Gaekwar of Nizam. It has no flaws; in fact, two of the original facets were retained when the stone passed through the cutter's hands. It is rose cut and its colour is of the finest water, having the rare blue tint."

He paused, raising the diamond from its receptacle, and holding it in his hand. The sunlight, pouring in

through the window, struck flame-spears from the wonderful thing.

"In fact, gentlemen/' he concluded, "the Blue Rajah is a fitting offering for the City of London to make to the Crown."

"Hear, hear!" chorused the others; and the diamond was passed from hand to hand. The formal business of making over the stone to the Committee was then transacted. A huge check was placed in the pocket-case of Mr. Gautami Chinje, autographs were affixed to two formidable documents; and the Blue Rajah became the property of the loyal City of London.

"You see," said Sir John Carron, holding the stone daintily between thumb and forefinger, and pointing, lecturer-fashion, "the diamond is perfectly proportioned, being a full three fifths as deep as it is broad."

"Quite so," agreed Mr. Morris Dell, looking over his shoulder.

"It is the most perfectly proportioned stone I have ever handled, Sir John," said the younger Mr. Anderson—and he stood back surveying the gem with the caressing glance of a connoisseur.

Sir John turned and tenderly laid the diamond in its case. At which moment, exactly, arose a bloodcurdling scream in the courtyard below.

"Good Lord!" cried Mr. Werner. "What is that?"

There was a crowded rush to the window—those

CASE OF THE BLUE RAJAH 131

in the second rank peering over the heads and shoulders of those in the first. The horrid cries continued, in a choking yet shrill crescendo.

"Ah! God in Heaven! You are killing me! No! No! Mercy! . . . Mercy! . . . Mercy! . . ."

"It is someone in the archway," said Sir Vernon Rankin, excitedly. "Can any of you see him?"

No one could, though all craned necks vigorously.

"Unfortunately, the window cannot be opened," cried Mr. Anderson. "The catch has jammed in some way. I am having it removed immediately."

The cries ceased. People were running about below, and the blue uniform of a city constable showed among the group in the archway.

"I'll run down and see what has happened," said Mr. Chinje, stepping to the door which opened on the corridor. "Hullo! it is locked!"

Young Mr. Anderson turned to him with a smile.

"Both doors are locked, Mr. Chinje," he said. "For the time being we are virtually prisoners."

"Give me the case," said his father, selecting the key of the door communicating with his private office. "There is no occasion for further delay."

The Lord Mayor turned from the window, through which he had still been vainly peering, and stepped to the table.

"Mr. Anderson!"

"Yes?' said the latter, glancing back, keys in hand.

"Have you the diamond?"

"Certainly not!"

"Then who has it?"

No one had it. But the case was empty!

in

Mr. Anderson replaced the keys in his pocket. His ruddy face suddenly had grown pale. Sir Michael Cayley, the empty case in his hand, stood staring across the room like a man dazed. Then he forced speech to his lips.

"Gentlemen," he said, "since it is physically impossible for the diamond to have left this room, in this room it must be searched for—and found. First, is it by any chance upon the floor ?"

A brief examination showed that it was not.

"Then," continued Sir Michael, "the painful conclusion is unavoidable that it is upon someone's person!"

An angry murmur arose. Mr. Anderson raised his hand.

"Gentlemen," he said, "Sir Michael states no more than the fact."

And, his face remaining very pale, he removed his coat and waitscoat and threw them upon the table, emptied his trouser pockets and turned out the linings.

"Be good enough to examine them, gentlemen," he said.

There was a momentary hesitation; but the Lord Mayor stepped forward and in a businesslike way examined the contents of the several pockets. He turned to Mr. Anderson.

"Thank you," he said. "If the others are satisfied, I am."

There was a murmur of assent; and as the owner of the office picked up his property, Sir Michael, in turn, submitted himself to examination. All the others followed suit, without further hesitation. And the result of the inquiry was nil.

Eight anxious faces surrounded the little table.

"I suggest,*" said Mr. Anderson, quietly, "that we admit the detective who is in my office. His experience may enable him to succeed where we have failed."

All agreeing, the communicating door was opened. Mr. Anderson, without quitting the room, called to Inspector Grimsby. The inspector entered. The door was relocked.

"Inspector," said Mr. Anderson, "the diamond is missing!"

Whereupon Grimsby's eyes opened widely in amazement.

"Are you sure, sir?*"

"Unfortunately, I cannot doubt it."

"When did you last see it?"

"At the moment when that uproar broke out below," said Mr. Dell.

"Ah," murmured Grimsby, thoughtfully. "You all rushed to the window, I expect?"

"Exactly."

"Leaving the diamond on the table?"

"Yes."

"That's when it was stolen!"

"Very possibly, Inspector," said the Lord Mayor, a stoutly built man with an imperious manner. " But who took it and where did he conceal it?"

"You must all submit to be searched, gentlemen!"

"We have already done so."

"I am more used to that sort of thing. Do you all agree to being searched by me?"

All did. The previous performance was repeated. Grimsby not only searched the garments but passed his hands all over the persons of the eight, even making them open their mouths and tapping at their teeth with a lead pencil!

"I did some I.D.B. work in South Africa," he explained. "It's wonderful where a clever man can hide a diamond."

But no diamond was found!

The better to bring home to those who read these records the truly amazing nature of this circumstance, I will explain again, here, the construction and furniture of the apartment.

It was a small room, some fourteen feet by eighteen.

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It contained eight oak chairs and an oak table; a red carpet; its walls were distempered and bare, save for the framed photograph previously mentioned. The one window was closed and fastened. The door opening on the corridor was double-locked. Save when it had been opened to admit Grimsby, the door communicating with the next office had also been locked throughout the course of the meeting. There was no fireplace. Ventilation was provided for by a small, square ventilator above the corridor door.