Sergeant, to repeat to Mr.
Madgin such parts of your narrative of yesterday as have any reference
to the diamond. Begin with my son's dying message. Repeat, word for
word, as closely as you can remember, all that was told you by the sycee
Rung. Describe as minutely as possible the personal appearance of M.
Platzoff; and detail any other points that bear on the loss of the
diamond."

So the Sergeant began, but the repetition of a long narrative not learnt
by heart is by no means an easy matter, especially when they to whom it
was first told hear it for the second time, but rather as critics than
as ordinary listeners. Besides, the taking of notes was a process that
smacked of a court-martial and tended to flurry the narrator, making him
feel as if he were upon his oath and liable to be browbeat by the
counsel for the other side. He was heartily glad when he got to the end
of what he had to tell. The postscript to Captain Chillington's letter
was then read by Miss Hope.

Mr. Madgin took copious notes as the Sergeant went on, and afterwards
put a few questions to him on different points which he thought not
sufficiently clear. Then he laid down his pen, rubbed his hands, and ran
his fingers through his scanty hair. Lady Chillington rang for her
butler, and gave the Sergeant into his keeping, knowing that he could
not be in better hands. Then she said: "I will leave you, Mr. Madgin,
for half-an-hour. Go carefully through your notes, and let me have your
opinion when I come back as to whether, after so long a time, you think
it worth while to institute any proceedings for the recovery of the
diamond."

So Mr. Madgin was left alone with what he called his "considering cap."
As soon as the door was closed behind her ladyship, he tilted back his
chair, stuck his feet on the table, buried his hands deep in his pockets
and shut his eyes, and so remained for full five-and-twenty minutes. He
was busy consulting his notes when Lady Chillington re-entered the room.
Mr. Madgin began at once.

"I must confess," he said, "that the case which your ladyship has
submitted to me seems, from what I can see of it at present, to be
surrounded with difficulties. Still, I am far from counselling your
ladyship to despair entirely. The few points which, at the first glance,
present themselves as requiring solution are these:--Who was the M.
Platzoff who is said to have stolen the diamond? and what position in
life did he really occupy? Is he