“It is impossible for me to decide now whether I can take it up or not,” I said, leaning back in my chair and looking at them both as I spoke.  “I must have time to think it over; there are a hundred and one things to be considered before I can give you a direct reply.”

There was silence for a few moments, and then Kitwater, who had been holding his usual mysterious communications with his friend, said—­

“When do you think you will be able to let us have an answer?”

“That depends upon a variety of circumstances,” I replied.  “It is a matter difficult to average.  In the first place there is no knowing where the man is at present:  he may be in London; he may be in America; he may be in any other portion of the globe.  It might cost five hundred pounds to find him, it might cost five thousand.  You must see for yourselves how uncertain it all is.”

“In that case we should be prepared to give security for the first-named amount, or pay you half in advance,” Kitwater replied.  “I hope you do not think, Mr. Fairfax, that we are endeavouring to play you false?  You can see for yourself that our injuries are permanent, and, as far as they go, are at least evidence concerning the truth of our story.  You can also see for yourself how this man has behaved towards us.  He has robbed us of all we hold valuable, and to his act of treachery we owe the mutilations we have suffered.  Can you wonder that we are anxious to find him?”

“I do not wonder at that at all,” I said.  “My only feeling is that I must regard it as an entirely business matter.”

“We cannot blame you,” Kitwater replied.  “Yet you must surely understand our anxiety for a definite and immediate answer.  The man has had a considerable start of us already, and he has doubtless disposed of the jewels ere this.  At whatever price he sold them, he must now be in possession of a considerable fortune, which rightly belongs to us.  We are not vindictive men; all we ask is for our own.”

“I quite agree with you there,” I replied.  “The only question in my mind is, who shall get it for you?  Let me explain matters a little more clearly.  In the first place I have no desire to offend you, but how am I to know that the story you tell me is a true one?”

“I have already told you that you will have to take our word for that,” he said.  “It will be a great disappointment to us if you cannot take the matter up, but we must bear it as we have borne our other misfortunes.  When we realized the way you managed those bank people we said to each other—­’That’s the man for us!  If any one can catch Hayle he’s that person.’  It naturally comes to us as a disappointment to find that you are not willing to take up the case.”

“I have not said that I am not willing,” I answered; “I only said that I am not going to commit myself until I have given the matter due consideration.  If you will call here at four o’clock to-morrow afternoon, I shall be able to give you a definite answer.”