"
My eyes fell with the rest, but no pearl was there; only the
contents of our pockets--our watches, pocket-books, pencils,
penknives, cigarette cases--lay on the shiny table along with the
revolvers already mentioned.
"Ye're humbuggin' us," said Mackenzie. "What's the use?"
"I'm doing nothing of the sort," laughed Raffles. "I'm testing
you. Where's the harm?"
"It's here, joke apart?"
"On that table, by all my gods."
Mackenzie opened the cigarette cases and shook each particular
cigarette. Thereupon Raffles prayed to be allowed to smoke one,
and, when his prayer was heard, observed that the pearl had been
on the table much longer than the cigarettes. Mackenzie promptly
caught up the Colt and opened the chamber in the butt.
"Not there, not there," said Raffles; "but you're getting hot.
Try the cartridges."
Mackenzie emptied them into his palm, and shook each one at his
ear without result.
"Oh, give them to me!"
And, in an instant, Raffles had found the right one, had bitten
out the bullet, and placed the emperor's pearl with a flourish in
the centre of the table.
"After that you will perhaps show me such little consideration as
is in your power. Captain, I have been a bit of a villain, as
you see, and as such I am ready and willing to lie in irons all
night if you deem it requisite for the safety of the ship.
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