(a) The pearls had been stolen by experienced specialists after long
and careful plotting or,
(b) They had been picked up on impulse by a man or woman dazzled by
their beauty. In this case the thief would most likely hoard them and
gloat over them in secret.
Not the least puzzling factor in the case was my client herself. It
was clear that she had been passionately attached to her pearls; she
spoke of them always in almost a poetic strain. Yet there was a
personal note of anguish in her grief which even the loss of her
treasure was not sufficient to explain. She was a quiet woman. And
strangest of all, she seemed to be more bent on finding out who had
taken them, than on getting them back again. She had waited six weeks
before acting at all, and now she hedged me around with so many
conditions that the prospect of success was nil.
I had an intuition which warned me that if I wished to remain friends
with her I had better be careful whom I accused of the crime. It was a
puzzler whichever way you looked at it. However, an investigator must
not allow himself to dwell on the hopelessness of his whole tangle, but
must set to work on a thread at a time. Whichever way it turned out, I
was to have the delight for a long time to come of seeing her
frequently.
I was there again the next afternoon. This day I remember the room was
fragrant with the scent of great bowls of violets. The lovely
dark-haired mistress of the place looked queenly in a dress of purple
and silver. As always when there were a number of people around she
was composed in manner, one might say a little haughty.
There was quite a crowd. It included a middle-aged lady, a Mrs.
Bleecker, a little over-dressed for her age and envious-looking. She,
it transpired, was Miss Hamerton's companion or chaperon. The only
other woman was a sister star, a handsome, blonde woman older than Miss
Hamerton, very affectionate and catty. I have forgotten her name. The
men were of various types. Among them I remember the editor of a
prominent newspaper, a well-known playwright and Mr. Roland Quarles.
The latter was Miss Hamerton's leading man. He looked quite as
handsome and young off the stage as on, but seemed morose.
Miss Hamerton introduced me all around in her casual way, and left me
to sink or swim by my own efforts. None of the people put themselves
out to be agreeable to me. I could see that each was wondering
jealously where I came in. However, since I had a right to be there, I
didn't let it trouble me. This is life! I told myself, and kept my
eyes and ears open. I was not long in discovering that these
"brilliant" people chattered about as foolishly as the humblest I knew.
Only my beautiful young lady was always dignified and wistful. She let
others do the talking.
I stubbornly outstayed them all. The men very reluctantly left me in
possession of the field. As for the lady companion I saw in her eye
that she was determined to learn what I had come for. However, Miss
Hamerton coolly disposed of her by asking her to entertain a newcomer
in the next room while she talked business with me.
These people wearied her. She relaxed when they had gone. She said to
me: "I had you shown right up because I want my friends to become
accustomed to seeing you. I hope you did not mind."