which hold the
stones together had worn thin and needed strengthening. It was four
o'clock in the afternoon when he arrived, and the Ranee, he said, had
selected our house for the work on the recommendation of royalty.
There was several hours' work on the thing--I saw that the instant I
examined it. But I was appalled by the fearful responsibility of
having a jewel of such fabulous value on the premises--with people
constantly coming in and going out--and determined, therefore, to
take it home and do the repairs myself. I informed the Ranee's
_major domo_ of that resolution, and demanded of him a guard of the
Ranee's own attendants to accompany me on the journey and to keep
watch over my house until he should come in person to receive the
necklace to-day.

"He accorded me this willingly; departed--still retaining
possession of the jewel, for I would not have it left with me at
any cost--returned with the guard an hour later, handed me the case
containing the necklace, and I left for home a few minutes after
five--and the Hindu guard with me. On arriving----"

"One moment, please," interposed Cleek. "Did you examine the case to
see if the Ladder of Light was still there before you started?"

"Yes, Mr. Cleek. I have no very great faith in Hindus at any time, so
you may be sure I took that precaution the instant the man placed
the case in my hands. The necklace was there. I even went further.
Before leaving my place of business I submitted the stones to
chemical test to be sure that no substitution had been made. They
were absolutely genuine; so that there can be no shadow of doubt
that it was the Ladder of Light itself I carried home with me. On
arriving at my residence I stationed the two Hindu guards at the
front gate, entered the house, and was upon the point of going
immediately to my study to subject the stones to yet another chemical
test--to make sure that no trickery had been practised upon me by the
Hindus on the journey--when I was unexpectedly pounced upon in the
main hallway by my son, Henry, who was in a greatly excited state
and attempted to renew the subject of our unpleasant interview
of the day before."

Here Sir Mawson's voice grew curiously thick and unsteady. He paused
a moment as if ashamed to go on, then stiffened himself and continued.

"Mr. Cleek," he said, agitatedly, "it is necessary that I should tell
you, at this point, something with regard to those who make up the
members of my househ