just ceased to shake when the door opened, and Sir Thomas Blunt
walked in.
CHAPTER XXVI
STIRRING TIMES FOR SIR THOMAS
For a man whose intentions toward the jewels and their owner were so
innocent, and even benevolent, Jimmy was in a singularly
compromising position. It would have been difficult even under more
favorable conditions to have explained to Sir Thomas’s satisfaction
his presence in the dressing-room. As things stood, it was even
harder, for his lordship’s last action before seeking cover had been
to fling the necklace from him like a burning coal. For the second
time in ten minutes, it had fallen to the carpet, and it was just as
Jimmy straightened himself after picking it up that Sir Thomas got a
full view of him.
The knight stood in the doorway, his face expressing the most lively
astonishment. His bulging eyes were fixed upon the necklace in
Jimmy’s hand. Jimmy could see him struggling to find words to cope
with so special a situation, and felt rather sorry for him.
Excitement of this kind was bad for a short-necked man of Sir
Thomas’s type.
With kindly tact, he endeavored to help his host out.
“Good-evening,” he said, pleasantly.
Sir Thomas stammered. He was gradually nearing speech.
“What–what–what–” he said.
“Out with it,” said Jimmy.
“–what–”
“I knew a man once in South Dakota who stammered,” said Jimmy. “He
used to chew dog-biscuit while he was speaking. It cured him–
besides being nutritious. Another good way is to count ten while
you’re thinking what to say, and then get it out quick.”
“You–you blackguard!”
Jimmy placed the necklace carefully on the dressing-table. Then, he
turned to Sir Thomas, with his hands thrust into his pockets. Over
the knight’s head, he could see the folds of the curtain quivering
gently, as if stirred by some zephyr. Evidently, the drama of the
situation was not lost on Hildebrand Spencer, twelfth Earl of
Dreever.
Nor was it lost on Jimmy. This was precisely the sort of situation
that appealed to him. He had his plan of action clearly mapped out.
He knew that it would be useless to tell the knight the true facts
of the case. Sir Thomas was as deficient in simple faith as in
Norman blood. Though a Londoner by birth, he had one, at least, of
the characteristic traits of the natives of Missouri.
To all appearances, this was a tight corner, but Jimmy fancied that
he saw his way out of it. Meanwhile, the situation appealed to him.
Curiously enough, it was almost identical with the big scene in act
three of “Love, the Cracksman,” in which Arthur Mifflin had made
such a hit as the debonair burglar.
Jimmy proceeded to give his own idea of what the rendering of a
debonair burglar should be. Arthur Mifflin had lighted a cigarette,
and had shot out smoke-rings and repartee alternately. A cigarette
would have been a great help here, but Jimmy prepared to do his best
without properties.
“So–so, it’s you, is it?” said Sir Thomas.
“Who told you?”
“Thief! Low thief!”
“Come, now,” protested Jimmy. “Why low? Just because you don’t know
me over here, why scorn me? How do you know I haven’t got a big
American reputation? For all you can tell, I may be Boston Billie or
Sacramento Sam, or someone. Let us preserve the decencies of
debate.”
“I had my suspicions of you. I had my suspicions from the first,
when I heard that my idiot of a nephew had made a casual friend in
London. So, this was what you were! A thief, who–”
“I don’t mind, personally,” interrupted Jimmy, “but I hope, if ever
you mix with cracksmen, you won’t go calling them thieves. They are
frightfully sensitive. You see! There’s a world of difference
between the two branches of the profession and a good deal of
snobbish caste-prejudice. Let us suppose that you were an actor-
manager. How would you enjoy being called a super? You see the idea,
don’t you? You’d hurt their feelings. Now, an ordinary thief would
probably use violence in a case like this. But violence, except in
extreme cases–I hope this won’t be one of them–is contrary, I