The Black Tortoise

the months which followed af

se; he took a fancy to "ski" sport, and

emain in Christiania till the summer, when h

ge, much to the satisfaction of old Frick. They were always together, and I fancy ol

cent pleasures. Even in Christiania, there are always to be found at least a dozen young good-for-nothings, who have plenty of money and nothing to

nd one day I spoke to Einar a

he had latterly had more pocket money from his uncle, and didn't play higher than he could afford. Mr. Howell had several times prevented him fr

n every respect that of a gentleman. That I, in spite of this, entertained a shadow

ummoned up courage and put the all-important question to Miss Fr

ld Frick was remarkably fond of his brother's children. The old man had lived his life for many years without having felt the sunshine of tenderness other than that of comrade

and me; and at the same time, I also think that I had been fortunate enough to win his respect,

*

the spring had come unusually early that year,

ding in my room, wondering if, as a reward, I should give myself an evening off a

heard the te

s that yo

the same voice that, eight months ago, had aske

it i

here at once? Some

with you in

ook a carriage; I didn'

y occurred. I do not know if one can really have a presentiment without some material

ked the gate carefully after us, stuck the key in his pocket, and the

tortoise is

on

n, I say," and he

. It was a relief for me to hear that it was nothing worse.

It is as I say; the black tortoise has been stolen aga

it was exactly twenty-

o'clock? Didn't the black tortoise lie in th

nk our coffee out in the museum, as we often do. At five o'clock Jurgens left, and we all went over to the house. For some reason, as I shall presently explain, I forgot to lock the door o

it was there a

all left the museum; I was the last who went ou

ny one that the

appened was to telephone to you; since then I have watch

events had taught this old man

d answers were clearer than nine-tenths of those which d

d, or your nep

re about a week, and Sigrid went for a walk about half an hour ago. It was while accom

ything else in the mus

ticles which would be much easier to turn into ready money than the tortoise. It could

lue to you or to any one else apart fr

eyes! No! there is nothing of that kind in this case. We found it in the cavern, as I told you, together with all the other diamonds. Man had not set foot there for thousands of years; and the negroes who live thereabouts do not c

ake care that no one passes in or out through the gate, while I mean

y, which was about three or four acres and laid ou

mself through. It was not altogether improbable, though difficult enough, that a da

a good deal, and the ground on either side of the railing was soft. Any footstep would the

he garden; no one

ing to and fro at the

over the fence

my belief the whole time. I fear that we must h

was the dear girl walking at

saw me, but it disappeared quickly, and I

I gave a sign, to Frick that I

ich had nothing to do with the theft. Then, as we came neare

tortoise; he thinks he must have m

been mislaid. I was afraid that if I mentioned at once that it might have be

myself saw you put it in its place before w

bsent-minded manner; she looked fagged out, like a pers

he disappearance of the diamond, and then she left us and went into the hou

mmediately to Villa Ballarat. I then asked old Frick to take a walk with me in the garden until th

enly began to wonder why I had not see

ed Varingson, I think, who owns large forests up there. They are going to shoot

the afternoo

n was not going before six or seven. We can hear from Iverson when he lef

on. He was generally known as the gardener, but he took his turn as gatekeeper, and with the coachman he kept the yard in order; was joiner, smith, and many other things, an

h outside the villa and arrange that he should be relieved, so that the house and garden should not be unwatc

diamond might be offered that, should this occur, they must inform the police wi

ouse that day. Their statement as to time, etc., corroborated exactly. Sigrid had, however, a bad he

with Iverson. The coachm

en away that afternoon to visit her mother. She had, however, been at Villa Ball

o; for the present, I can only add they were not very satisfying; I began to be afraid that this a

official notification of the robbery to the police;