The Argosy — page 282: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Mysteries of Heron Dyke. 263 and is with me still. The loss troubled him, I think, more than it troubled me. Not, of course, that I cared to lose the things.” “Did any of the gentlemen enter your dressing-room during the evening ?”’ ‘Dear me, yes. It adjoined the sitting-room, and some of them were in and out. Candles were alight in it. Well, the next day, when the small case of jewellery came to be looked for it was nowhere to be found; nor, so far as I am aware, has anything been heard of it from that day to this.” ‘“‘ Sir,” said Mr. Meath, ‘‘was it possible that any person could have had access to your dressing-room in the course of the evening, while you and your visitors were busy at the card-table ?” ‘No, that could not be,” answered Major Piper. ‘‘ To get access to the dressing-room they must have passed through the room where we sat; or else through a little ante-room on the other side the dressing-room, and Tompkins sat in the ante-room the whole evening long.” ‘Did you put the matter into the hands of the police?” enquired Mr. Meath. ‘‘T had it enquired into privately by the police,” replied the Major, “but I would not allow it to be made public. On the one hand it was impossible for me to suspect my servant; while on the other I did not choose to have it thought that I suspected any of my guests. It was a most disagreeable affair and worried me a good deal at the time. Iwas always hoping that something might turn up: but I suppose it has grown too late in the day to expect it now.” ‘“T don’t know that,” said Mr. Meath. ‘This sleeve-link may prove the connecting link between your robbery and the still darker crime recently enacted at Heron Dyke: that is, it may lead to the discovery of both perpetrators, who may prove to have been one and the same man. Will you, sir, oblige me with the names of the gentlemen, so far as your memory serves, who made up your card- party on the night of the loss.” ‘“‘' There can be no objection to my doing that,” said the Major; - and I hope with all my heart it may prove of use to you. I can tell you every name; for the night and its doings lie with unfaded impression on my memory.” Mr. Meath took down the names from his dictation, as well as the date when the robbery occurred. They all appeared to be men of standing ; most of them of undeniable connections. “Two of them, Dr. Backhouse and my old comrade, Sir Marcus Gunn, are dead,” remarked the Major. ‘‘Of the others, two are living in Cheltenham ; one lives abroad, attaché to an embassy; and one or two have passed out of my knowledge. They may be living anywhere: the world is wide.” ‘Will you point out those one or two to me,” asked Mr. Meath— and Major Piper did so. CoOMmicoooKks (SO)