Sergeant Nicholas, Mr. Deedes went on
from that point to detail by what means he had discovered that M.
Platzoff was still alive and where he was now living. Then he told of
his coming down to Bon Repos, and all that had happened to him since
that time. He had already told his son with what view he had sent for
him from London--that not being able to make any further headway in the
case himself, he was desirous of introducing his dear James, in the
guise of a servant, into Bon Repos, as an agent on whose integrity and
cleverness he could alike depend.

"But you have not yet told your dear James the amount of the honorarium
you will be entitled to receive in case you recover the stolen Diamond."

"What do you say to five thousand pounds?" asked Mr. Deedes in a solemn
whisper.

The younger man opened his eyes. "Hum! A very pretty little amount," he
said, "but I have yet to learn what proportion of that sum will
percolate into the pockets of this child. In other words, what is to be
my share of the plunder?"

"Plunder, my dear boy, is a strange word to make use of. Pray be more
particular in your choice of terms. The mercenary view you take of the
case is very distressing to my feelings. A proper recompense for your
time and trouble it was my intention to make you; but as regards the
five thousand pounds, I hoped to be able to fund it in toto, to add it
to my little capital, and to leave it intact for those who will come
after me. And you know very well, James, that there will only be you and
Mirpah to divide whatever the old man may die possessed of."

"But, my dear dad, you are not going to die for these five-and-twenty
years. My present necessities are imperative: like the daughters of the
horse-leech, they are continually asking for more."

"James! James! how changed you are from the dear, unselfish boy of ten
years ago!"

"And very proper too. But do let us be business-like, if you please. The
role of the 'heavy father' doesn't suit you at all. Keep sentiment out
of the case, and then we shall do very well. Listen to my ultimatum. The
day I place the Hara Diamond in your hands you must give me a cheque for
fifteen hundred pounds."

"Fifteen hundred pounds!" gasped the old man. "James! James! do you wish
to see me die in a workhouse?"

"Fifteen hundred pounds. Not one penny less," reiterated Madgin, junior.
"What do you mean by a workhouse? You will then have three thousand,
five hundred pounds to the good,