*CHAPTER XXIII.*
*A LUNCH AT THE BELGRAVE.*
Mrs. Benstein received Denvers as arranged the next morning as if theevents of the previous night had been forgotten. She was lookingwonderfully fresh and bright; a tailor-made gown fitted her figure toperfection. She motioned Denvers to a chair.
"I am glad you came," she said. "Now you are to please listen to mecarefully and put the past out of your mind altogether. Since I saw youlast night I have learnt a great deal touching the history of the BlueStone of Ghan."
"Which I trust is quite safe," Harold murmured.
"Oh quite," Mrs. Benstein said, with a queer little smile. "I have evensatisfied my husband on that point, though he has not yet recovered fromthe shock of your visit--I mean the visit of yourself and the Shan lastnight. You want to borrow the stone for a day or so?"
"That was the suggestion we ventured to make, Mrs. Benstein."
"For the purpose of throwing dust in the eyes of certain persons who areinterested in an attempt to deprive the Shan of his throne. Mind, thatis merely surmise, but I fancy it is correct. But I may tell you thatmy husband could never have hardened his heart to that extent."
"It doesn't matter now," Harold explained. "We are in a position toredeem the gem. Of course, under the circumstances, I need not concealanything from your Mr. Gerald Parkford----"
"Capital!" Mrs. Benstein cried. "His name is good enough for anything.Now the path is quite clear. I want you and Miss Lyne to lunch with meat two o'clock at the Belgrave. The Shan must come along, that isimperative. He is to leave a note for his minister Hamid Khan to joinhim there at that meal, and bring the document that requires sealingalong. Also I am going to ask Sir Clement Frobisher; only I want HamidKhan to be a little late. Do you understand?"
"Most brilliant of mysteries; I'll try to," Harold smiled. "And theBlue Stone----"
"The Blue Stone will be in evidence when the time comes. See Mr.Parkford and ask him to bring that cheque along. My husband is too illto attend to business to-day, so I shall transact it for him."
"He has had a great deal on his mind the last few hours," Harold smiled.
"That is it, Mr. Denvers. A corner in rubies, so to speak. Now willyou go and settle up this business for me without delay? I understandthat the Shan wants looking after if one desires to keep him in acondition to bestow his mind on business affairs."
"I'll take the hint and my departure," Harold laughed. "I suppose youhave written all your notes. And I quite forgot to ask if you feel anythe worse for last night's adventure."
Mrs. Benstein had written all her notes, and on the whole she feltlittle inconvenience from her accident.
"Not that I am at all satisfied," she said. "Mr. Denvers, I was in greatdanger last night?"
"Terrible danger!" Harold said gravely. "But I have got to the bottom ofthe mystery now, and the same thing is not likely to happen again. Ican't tell you now; in fact, if I did there would be no luncheon-partyat the Belgrave to-day. But your curiosity will not be unduly tried."
By the use of the telephone and a cab, Harold managed to carry out Mrs.Benstein's desires. Parkford was waiting in his chambers, having justbreakfasted.
"I expected you," he said. "Any news of the ruby?"
"Mrs. Benstein says it is all right," Harold replied. "She wants you tolunch with her at two at the Belgrave, and I was to ask you to put thecheque in your pocket. It sounds flighty and very unbusinesslike, butthere are other matters mixed up with this one, and Mrs. Benstein is notthe woman to do a thing of this kind without some very good reason.Will you come?"
"With pleasure," Parkford replied, "and bring the cheque along. Beforevery long an invitation from Mrs. Benstein will confer a mark ofdistinction."
The ruler of Koordstan was dressing as Denvers arrived, and suggestingsomething in the way of champagne and soda-water as a means of anappetite for breakfast. He had gone to bed painfully sober for him, andhe resented the interference of Harold accordingly.
"'Pon my word, you seem to forget yourself," he said. "If a man can'tdo as he likes in my position----"
"It is precisely a man in your position who cannot do as he likes,"Harold said coolly. "Leave that stuff alone till after lunch, when youcan do as you please. If you want your stone back----"
"I had forgotten all about the confounded thing!" the Shan growled."Let me see, what had you arranged? I was so interested in my bridgelast night that I forgot all about it. Wasn't there a man calledParkford who promised to do something to get me out of my scrape?"
"He promised a cheque," Harold explained. "He is ready to redeem thestone for us, and Mrs. Benstein has promised that it shall be producedat the proper time. I have seen her already this morning, and she wantsyou to join her luncheon-party at the Belgrave at two."
"Count me in!" the Shan said eagerly. "A monstrous fine woman, Denvers;and a beautiful one, into the bargain. But you forget I promised to seeHamid Khan here in an hour's time."
"Well, you are not going to meet him here," Harold said. "Mrs. Bensteinhas got some little scheme on, and I am here an involuntary ally in thematter. You will be good enough to leave a note here for Hamid Khan,explaining that you have been called out on business, or pleasure, orwhatever you like; so that Hamid Khan is to meet you at the Belgrave attwo for luncheon, after which you will seal his papers. This is not myidea, but Mrs. Benstein's. I am looking forward to a very pretty comedypresently."
The Shan scrambled off his note and presently departed with Harold, whohad no intention of losing sight of his dusky friend till theluncheon-party was over. To the Shan's suggestion of the club andbilliards he assented, but to a feeble suggestion of modest liquids heturned a deaf ear. On the whole, Denvers was glad to find himself on hisway to the Belgrave.
Mrs. Benstein had already arrived, accompanied by Angela. She hadfetched the latter, she explained, so that she would have no time for anexcuse. A spray of the Cardinal Moth flashed and trembled on Mrs.Benstein's breast; the same spray of purple orchid that Angela had wornthe night before in her hair, was tucked into her belt. Mrs. Bensteinwas frank and easy and charming as usual, but there was just a touch ofcolour in her cheeks, and her eyes had a brighter sparkle than usual.
"I have managed everything myself," she cried, gaily. "I have evenarranged the flowers on the table. A strange thing, is it not, that weEnglish people can arrange flowers!"
"Ah, here is Mr. Parkford."
Parkford came up, alert, quick, and self-possessed as usual. Denversgave him an inquiring glance, at which he smiled and tapped hisbreast-pocket significantly.
"No flowers, any of you!" Mrs. Benstein cried in affected surprise."Here is one for Mr. Parkford, and there is one for Mr. Denvers.Positively, I see nothing of the shade to suit the colouring of HisHighness the Shan. Ah, here is the very thing! Excuse me, Miss Lyne."
The speaker bent down and broke off a little spray of one blossom of thepurple orchid from Angela's belt, and herself fixed it in the lapel ofthe Shan's immaculate coat.
"Who can say that it is not in perfect taste?" she cried. "It is thevery shade. We will sit down, and unless Sir Clement Frobisher turns upin time we will proceed without him."
Angela looked a little disappointed at the mention of Frobisher's name.A couple of waiters busied themselves over the table, a basket ofgold-foiled bottles attracted the Shan's admiring gaze. As the bigEmpire clock over the doorway of the great red and gold saloon struckthe hour Frobisher appeared. He drew up grinning and smiling withperfect self-possession; even the presence of Denvers did not disconcerthim. He affected to ignore Harold altogether. But though he smiled,there was just the suggestion of a puzzled pucker between his eyes.There was something going on that he did not understand. He made amental note of the fact that Angela and Denvers were not to meet again.
"A pleasant party," he murmured, "and full of sweet surprises. But Ialways was partial to a dainty sal
ad. Do you expect any further guests,dear lady?"
"I understand that His Highness the Shan is waiting for someone," Mrs.Benstein murmured. "It is a matter of business, I believe. Is notsomebody hunting for you over there, your Highness?"
"Hamid Khan, sure enough," the Shan exclaimed. "He sees us at last. Heis coming this way."
Hamid came leisurely along, smiling deferentially as he caught sight ofhis master. The Shan introduced his minister more or less _en bloc_ asHamid murmured something. Then his face suddenly changed, a sicklyyellow showed under his tan as he looked up and met the slightly-mockingglance of his hostess.
"Hamid Khan and I have met before," Mrs. Benstein said serenely. "Itwas some years ago, but I have not forgotten."
"Egad, our friend does not duly appreciate his blessings," Frobisherchuckled as his keen eye detected the sickly pallor of the newcomer."Try one of these liqueurs."
"The heat, the walk in the sun," Hamid murmured. "London often affectsme in this way. If my master will excuse me, I will get my businessdone and go away. My unworthy presence----"
"Luncheon first," Mrs. Benstein gaily cried. "For the sake of old times,I cannot be refused. I confess I am very curious to see that Blue Stoneand the way State documents are sealed. You will perform the operationin our presence after luncheon, will you not, Shan?"
The Shan nodded stolidly. If some play was going on he might take hispart, he thought, especially with so brilliant a lady to lead him.Frobisher's restless little eyes roved from face to face, but he couldread nothing. The meal proceeded gaily enough, the only silent personbeing Hamid Khan, who seemed restless and ill at ease. Hardly was thecoffee on the table before he rose.
"Mrs. Benstein must excuse me," he said. "But I have much to do. Ifyour Highness will produce the stone I will lay out the necessary papersand----"
He shrugged his shoulders. The Shan put down his glass and nodded. Itwas impossible from his stolid features to guess that he was as utterlypuzzled as Frobisher, which was saying a great deal. A sudden silence,a burst of expectation had fallen on the party. A burst of laughterfrom an adjoining table seemed out of place, incongruous. The paperswere crackling under Hamid Khan's shaky hand.
"Has anybody a wax-match?" he asked. "Thank you, sir. I will get theseals ready."
He proceeded with the aid of a vesta to melt a piece of white wax on aplate. These he laid neatly on a round patch on the paper before him.
"And now for the seal," Mrs. Benstein cried gaily. "Pray produce it,your Highness. I hope you are not so indiscreet as to carry it loose inyour pocket."
"I have too many enemies for that," the Shan said, carelessly. "I haveto hide it carefully--in fact, I ought not to be in the street with itat all. Now guess where it is?"
Mrs. Benstein's eyes fairly caressed the speaker. He wanted an openinglead, and he had contrived to ask for it in such a manner as to utterlythrow Frobisher off the scent.
"I fancy I can tell," Mrs. Benstein went on. "Yes, you are not so cleveras you imagine. You are like the man who hid his bank-note in his tie,and called the attention of the thieves who dogged him to the fact bytapping the tie nervously all the time. I have seen you glancefrequently at the purple orchid in your coat. I guess that the BlueStone is fixed in the calyx of the orchid."
"A most amazing and clever woman," the Shan murmured as he removed theflower from his coat and looked gravely into the calyx of the bloom."By the prophet, there is some foreign substance here! I remove itbetween my thumb and forefinger, and behold the Blue Stone."
A queer cry broke from Frobisher, who instantly suppressed it. HamidKhan looked up with dilating eyes and shot a glance almost murderous atFrobisher. As to the Shan, he smiled with the air of a man who hasbrought off some new and brilliant feat of conjuring.
"One of Frobisher's orchids too," he said. "Frobisher, if you drink sofast you'll choke yourself."
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