The Black Tortoise

mmediately after the disappearance of the diamond I

owell's rooms. All his drawers and trunks were open, but contained nothing of interest. My investigations also made it clear that

ce of the diamond. This, perhaps, was the reason that made me feel, more acutely than ever, that not one of us really knew the young

was a bachelor, had a nice little sum in the bank, and it was easy to find out about his antecedents. He was the son of well-to-do peasants in Smaalenene, and when quite you

a suspicion that she is likely to play an important part in the lamentable

house, this young girl had struck me as being strange. There was something m

than most young girls are. She thought that she was a girl of

t given one the impression of being in good health, although there was little c

ired to the museum, served the coffee there. When that was finished, she had left Villa Ballarat to visit her sick mother, just before the time Jurgens had left the house. At six o'clock she had retu

y than I had ever seen her, and Sigrid also thought that she looked

ng a couple of her rooms; but it was said that she was fond of drink, and that her principal income evidently consisted

, when Reierson was alive and was a well-to-do turner in Gr

regarding the loss of the diamond had, however, begun to take shape, wh

*

e May sun was shining warmly, a gentleman e

his trouser-bottoms a little the worse for wear, but still he might pass as quit

nce was something like this, for t

ump. I asked for Madame Reierson, and learned that she was livi

oman who take

e, but there's only one Madame Reierson in th

. In any case, the clothes I last got h

ntly appealed to the woman; she deigned to let go the w

ing? Well, you're not the first as says that. It's a shame that such a drunken wretch shou

e been thinking of giving

ghter of hers in service at old Frick's, in the Drammen Road, she can live in grand style, and enjoy herself without washing a rag. But I

short but pleasant

introduced upon the scene, but I was sharply sent about my business by

to be done, so I mounte

wo visiting-cards. I read: Ludwig Frederik

as clad in what I would call a simple morning toilet. I can hardly describe the various articles of her dres

al hat to her, and then explained that the object of

ted, should intrust his clothes to her to wash, and

would like to sit down a little. I'm no

d me through the kitchen into a disorderly room, filled

ly and laid my h

thetic feelings, for I heard her mumble something about

you up to me, the

onversation with this unpleasant woman, as she apparently had not yet had

come to the p

to you, as I wanted a good washerwoman,

n a chair right opposite me,

?" was the unflattering answer

d be suitable for my supposed errand; but there was no

"and I am secretary to the women's mission, and we ge

an's eyes. She had evidently got an idea into her head, bec

to be. Reierson wanted him to become a doctor, but I swore that he should become a parson. Well,

your da

ut her daughter, since I myself didn't appear to know her position in Frick's house. "But as y

nexpectedly upon me to hear this woman talking of it. Did she want to know what suspicions they had a

, they have got h

you don't

int of the conversation we

left me, and qui

was rickety and my hearing sharp; it was Madame Reierson's voice

me yet, do you say?-bee

ble something, that "h

hould meet him at ten o'clock to-day.-A strange gentleman,

ommendation from Miss Frick. Perhaps she was inquisitive, and wanted to see the phenomenon who came to Madame Re

he recognized me, her pale face became still paler, and it seemed to me she tot

olice were here." She looked at my

on forced herself past her da

ll, I might have guessed it, since he sneaked in here

ble. Either she had nothing to do with the diamond rob

, "that it was you who began to talk

me that the young girl's look was directed for a s

adame Reierson, jumping up from her chair; "else why did you come here? Perhaps you fancy we have s

of drawers, and to open her cupboards, while

my dear madame," said I, trying to pacify her; "I came really

r; for some seconds her face was overspread with a dee

," said Mrs. Reierson, curtly. "He is not at hom

without ceremony. The young girl still stood at the window, and did not turn round

hat, a black frock coat of faultless cut but with spotted silk revers, light trousers somewhat frayed at the bottoms, and cracked patent-leather shoes with large bows. The apparition stared at me stupidly and disappeared through the door leading to his

s, for at this moment he evidently did not recognize me, while less than

ants of the town. This document the merchant in question found best to deliver into the hands of the police, although the bewitching artist had

n," I thought, as my eyes followed the form of the arti

deas, which earlier had begun to dawn in my mind, now assumed a

d to fumble my way to the other end; or perhaps it would be bette

n I left Mrs. Reierson's parlour, I felt convinced that Evelina k

grounds at the bottom. This accident was sufficient to set going a train of thoughts which, no doubt, had already been unconsciously developing

expression in Evelina's e

as soon us I had served

ss to become possessed of it; she had heard him bid ten thousand kroners for it! Later on she had passed the museum, when all wer

latter, of which I, as yet, had no certain

rrect, then Mr. Jurgens had now

not concern me. I knew that the mania for collecting sweeps away all moral considerations lik