The state-room was spacious,
as befitted that of a commander. Mackenzie sat on the settee,
his beard in front of him on the polished table; but a revolver
lay in front of the captain; and, when I had entered, the chief
officer, who had summoned me, shut the door and put his back to
it. Von Heumann completed the party, his fingers busy with his
mustache.
Raffles greeted me.
"This is a great joke!" he cried. "You remember the pearl you
were so keen about, Bunny, the emperor's pearl, the pearl money
wouldn't buy? It seems it was entrusted to our little friend
here, to take out to Canoodle Dum, and the poor little chap's
gone and lost it; ergo, as we're Britishers, they think we've got
it!"
"But I know ye have," put in Mackenzie, nodding to his beard.
"You will recognize that loyal and patriotic voice," said
Raffles. "Mon, 'tis our auld acquaintance Mackenzie, o'
Scoteland Yarrd an' Scoteland itsel'!"
"Dat is enough," cried the captain. "Have you submid to be
searge, or do I vorce you?"
"What you will," said Raffles, "but it will do you no harm to
give us fair play first. You accuse us of breaking into Captain
von Heumann's state-room during the small hours of this morning,
and abstracting from it this confounded pearl. Well, I can prove
that I was in my own room all night long, and I have no doubt my
friend can prove the same.
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