Jasmin thanked Mr. Cleon respectfully and withdrew.  Ten minutes later, with his modest valise in his hand, he set out for his new home.  He and Mr. Deedes did not see each other again.  Next day Mr. Deedes announced that he was summoned home by important letters.  He bade the landlord and Cleon a friendly farewell, and left early on the following morning in time to catch the first train from Windermere going south.

CHAPTER XXV.

MADGIN JUNIOR’S FIRST REPORT.

Mr. Madgin senior lost no time after his arrival at home before hastening up to Deepley Walls to see Lady Chillington.  He had a brief conference with Mirpah while discussing his modest chop and glass of bitter ale; and he found time to read a letter which had arrived for him some days previously from the London diamond merchant whom he had employed to make inquiries as to whether any such gem as the Great Hara had been offered for sale at any of the great European marts during the past twenty years.  The letter was an assurance that no such stone had been in the market, nor was any such known to be in the hands of any private individual.

Mr. Madgin took the letter with him to Deepley Walls.  In her grim way Lady Chillington seemed greatly pleased to see him.  She was all impatience to hear what news he had to tell her.  But Mr. Madgin had his reservations; he did not deem it advisable to detail to her ladyship step by step all that he had done.  Her sense of honour might revolt at certain things he had found it necessary to do in furtherance of the great object he had in view.  He told her of his inquiries among the London diamond merchants, and read to her the letter he had received from one of them.  Then he went on to describe Bon Repos and its owner from the glimpses he had had of both.  For all such details her ladyship betrayed a curiosity that seemed as if it would never be satisfied.  He next went on to inform her that he had succeeded in placing his son as footman at Bon Repos, and that everything now depended on the discoveries James might succeed in making.  But nothing was said as to the false pretences and the changed name under which Madgin junior had entered M. Platzoff’s household.  Those were details which Mr. Madgin kept judiciously to himself.  Her ladyship was perfectly satisfied with his report; she was more than satisfied—­she was pleased.  She was very sanguine as to the existence of the diamond, and also as to its retention by M. Platzoff; far more so, in fact, than Mr. Madgin himself was.  But the latter was too shrewd a man of business to parade his doubts of success before a client who paid so liberally, so long as her hobby was ridden after her own fashion.  Mr. Madgin’s chief aim in life was to ride other people’s hobbies, and be well paid for his jockeyship.

“I am highly gratified, Mr. Madgin,” said her ladyship, “by the style, plein de finesse, in which you have so far conducted this delicate investigation.  I will not ask you what your next step is to be.  You know far better than I can tell you what ought to be done.  I leave the matter with confidence in your hands.”