, and together they agreed,
firstly, that no credit should be given; and, secondly, that if a cheque
or even a banker's draft were tendered, the jewels were not to be given
up until that cheque or draft was cashed.

"Then came the question as to who should take the jewels to the hotel.
It was altogether against business etiquette for the senior partners to
do such errands themselves; moreover, it was thought that it would be
easier for a clerk to explain, without giving undue offence, that he
could not take the responsibility of a cheque or draft, without having
cashed it previously to giving up the jewels.

"Then there was the question of the probable necessity of conferring in
a foreign tongue. The head assistant, Charles Needham, who had been in
the employ of Winslow and Vassall for over twelve years, was, in true
British fashion, ignorant of any language save his own; it was therefore
decided to dispatch Mr. Schwarz, a young German clerk lately arrived, on
the delicate errand.

"Mr. Schwarz was Mr. Winslow's nephew and godson, a sister of that
gentleman having married the head of the great German firm of Schwarz &
Co., silversmiths, of Hamburg and Berlin.

"The young man had soon become a great favourite with his uncle, whose
heir he would presumably be, as Mr. Winslow had no children.

"At first Mr. Vassall made some demur about sending Mr. Schwarz with so
many valuable jewels alone in a city which he had not yet had the time
to study thoroughly; but finally he allowed himself to be persuaded by
his senior partner, and a fine selection of necklaces, pendants,
bracelets, and rings, amounting in value to over L16,000, having been
made, it was decided that Mr. Schwarz should go to the North-Western in
a cab the next day at about three o'clock in the afternoon. This he
accordingly did, the following day being a Thursday.

"Business went on in the shop as usual under the direction of the head
assistant, until about seven o'clock, when Mr. Winslow returned from his
club, where he usually spent an hour over the papers every afternoon,
and at once asked for his nephew. To his astonishment Mr. Needham
informed him that Mr. Schwarz had not yet returned. This seemed a little
strange, and Mr. Winslow, with a slightly anxious look in his face, went
into the inner office in order to consult his junior partner. Mr.
Vassall offered to go round to the hotel and interview Mr. Pettitt.

"'I was beginning to get anxious myself,