A queer, old-fashioned, much-worn leather box--a very miniature trunk,
in fact," replied Mr. Criedir. "About a foot square; the sort of thing
you never see nowadays. It was very much worn; it attracted me for that
very reason. He set it on the counter and looked at me. 'You're a
dealer in stamps--rare stamps?' he said. 'I am,' I replied. 'I've
something here I'd like to show you,' he said, unlocking the box.
'It's--'"

"Stop a bit," said Spargo. "Where did he take the key from with which
he unlocked the box?"

"It was one of several which he carried on a split ring, and he took
the bunch out of his left-hand trousers pocket," replied Mr. Criedir.
"Oh, I keep my eyes open, young gentleman! Well--he opened his box. It
seemed to me to be full of papers--at any rate there were a lot of
legal-looking documents on the top, tied up with red tape. To show you
how I notice things I saw that the papers were stained with age, and
that the red tape was faded to a mere washed-out pink."

"Good--good!" murmured Spargo. "Excellent! Proceed, sir,''

"He put his hand under the topmost papers and drew out an envelope,"
continued Mr. Criedir. "From the envelope he produced an exceedingly
rare, exceedingly valuable set of Colonial stamps--the very-first ever
issued. 'I've just come from Australia,' he said. 'I promised a young
friend of mine out there to sell these stamps for him in London, and as
I was passing this way I caught sight of your shop. Will you buy 'em,
and how much will you give for 'em?'"

"Prompt," muttered Spargo.

"He seemed to me the sort of man who doesn't waste words," agreed Mr.
Criedir. "Well, there was no doubt about the stamps, nor about their
great value. But I had to explain to him that I was retiring from
business that very day, and did not wish to enter into even a single
deal, and that, therefore, I couldn't do anything. 'No matter,' he
says, 'I daresay there are lots of men in your line of trade--perhaps
you can recommend me to a good firm?' 'I could recommend you to a dozen
extra-good firms,' I answered. 'But I can do better for you. I'll give
you the name and address of a private buyer who, I haven't the least
doubt, will be very glad to buy that set from you and will give you a
big price.' 'Write it down,' he says, 'and thank you for your trouble.'
So I gave him a bit of advice as to the price he ought to get, and I
wrote the name and address of the man I referred to on the back of one
of my cards."