The Annam Jewel (31 page)

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Authors: Patricia Wentworth

BOOK: The Annam Jewel

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“Where's my automatic?” he said coolly.

“I threw it into the sea,” said Rose Ellen in tones of clear severity.

“Did you now?” He gazed at her with some admiration, and she flushed.

“It's the best place for it,” she said, with a touch of heat. “With your sort of temper you ought never to carry a revolver, never.”

“Now that's real good sense,” said Hendebakker.

“Henders, get out,” said Peter. “I've had more than enough of you.”

Hendebakker got slowly to his feet, and dusted his trousers.

“Lucky I've got my automobile outside,” he said. “I should hate to travel in a train looking this way. Yes, I'm going, Waring; but before I go I've got a proposition to make to you. You needn't fall in with it if you don't like, but it might be worth your while. Miss Mortimer, you're a real sensible young lady, and I put it to youâdo any of us want this business talked about?”

“No, we don't,” said Rose Ellen. “Peter, we don't, do we?”

Peter frowned. He was still very white.

“What do you mean, Henders?” he said sharply.

“Well, it's this way,” said Hendebakker. “The real Jewel's in the sea, and no good to anyone. The observation I was going to make is thisâare you a card-player, Waring?âthe king's good enough if no one has the ace. Anita sets a good deal of store by the Jewel, and I set a good deal of store by Anita. I'd be real glad to have her go on thinking that she's got the Annam Jewel; and, as I put it to Miss Mortimer just now, what do you stand to gain by talking? Is it a deal? I'll make it worth your while.”

Peter set his jaw.

“Henders, if you don't get out, I'll kill you. I swear I will,” he said.

Rose Ellen's hand tightened on his arm.

“Peter,” she whispered, “we don't want to talk. Tell him we won't if he'll leave Sylvia alone.”

Peter hesitated. It went so horribly against the grain to make a bargain with the man. After a moment he said rather jerkily:

“We don't want to talk: but you've got to leave Lady Moreland alone. D'you hear? If you annoy her in any way, I'll see to it that everyone knows your Jewel's a fake.”

Hendebakker burst out laughing.

“You're pretty much of a fool, Waring, aren't you?” he said. “You don't owe her much, and that's the bedrock truth. It's mighty bad business to pay what you don't owe. But, as far as I'm concerned, it's a deal. You hold your tongue about the Jewel, and I'll hold mine about the lady. Well, so long, Waring. Miss Mortimer, I'm very pleased to have met you.”

He bowed cermoniously, picked up his soft felt hat, dusted it with care, put it on and walked away.

They watched him out of sight, and stood in silence for a while. Then Peter said, “Rose Ellen,” in a shaken, uncertain voice, and she turned to him with both her hands out, palm upwards, empty.

“I've thrown away twenty thousand pounds, Peter,” she said between tears and laughter. “And, oh, Peter, I'm so happy. And oh, Peter deâah, I am so rich.”

Peter couldn't speak at all. He went down on his knees, and hid his face in those soft, empty hands.

EPILOGUE

The Jewel lay in the Shrine. There was light about it. The Shrine was full of light. The Jewel shone. It shone with the four great colours: blue of the Celestial Heaven; crimson of Elemental Flame; green of Immortal Spring; and the golden Ray of Wisdom.

The place was full of light.

The love of Rose Ellen lay in the heart of Peter. It shone, and made a light there. It was clear as the Celestial Heaven, and warm and pure as Flame. It was one with Immortal Spring, and at its heart was the golden ray of Wisdom.

The Jewel lay in the Shrine.

About the Author

Patricia Wentworth (1878â1961) was one of the masters of classic English mystery writing. Born in India as Dora Amy Elles, she began writing after the death of her first husband, publishing her first novel in 1910. In the 1920s, she introduced the character who would make her famous: Miss Maud Silver, the former governess whose stout figure, fondness for Tennyson, and passion for knitting served to disguise a keen intellect. Along with Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, Miss Silver is the definitive embodiment of the English style of cozy mysteries.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Mauricio DÃaz

ISBN: 978-1-5040-3346-6

This edition published in 2016 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

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