The younger man made no reply in words, but turned abruptly on his heel
and began to walk back.

"James! James!" cried the old man, catching his son by the coat tails,
"do not go off in that way. It shall be as you wish. I will tell you
everything. You headstrong boy! Do you want to break your poor father's
heart?"

"Break your fiddlestick!" said Mr. Jasmin, irreverently. "Let us sit
down on this green bank, and you shall tell me all about the Diamond
while I try the quality of these cigars. I am all attention."

Thus adjured, Mr. Deedes sighed deeply, wiped his forehead with his
handkerchief, looked meditatively into his hat for a few seconds, and
then began.

Beginning with the narrative of Sergeant Nicholas, Mr. Deedes went on
from that point to detail by what means he had discovered that M.
Platzoff was still alive and where he was now living. Then he told of
his coming down to Bon Repos, and all that had happened to him since
that time. He had already told his son with what view he had sent for
him from London--that not being able to make any further headway in the
case himself, he was desirous of introducing his dear James, in the
guise of a servant, into Bon Repos, as an agent on whose integrity and
cleverness he could alike depend.

"But you have not yet told your dear James the amount of the honorarium
you will be entitled to receive in case you recover the stolen Diamond."

"What do you say to five thousand pounds?" asked Mr. Deedes in a solemn