CHAPTER XX
A GIRLISH NOTION
Colby came around next morning just as Mr. Merrick was entering thebreakfast room, and the little man took the lawyer in to have a cup ofcoffee. The young attorney still maintained his jaunty air, althoughred-eyed from his night's vigil, and when he saw the Stanton girls andtheir Aunt Jane having breakfast by an open window he eagerly beggedpermission to join them, somewhat to Uncle John's amusement.
"Well?" demanded Maud, reading Colby's face with her clear eyes.
"I made a night of it, as I promised," said he. "This morning I know somuch about pearls that I'm tempted to go into the business."
"As Jack Andrews did?" inquired Flo.
"Not exactly," he answered with a smile. "But it's an interestingsubject--so interesting that I only abandoned my reading when I found Iwas burning my electric lamp by daylight. Listen: A pearl is nothing moreor less than nacre, a fluid secretion of a certain variety of oyster--notthe eatable kind. A grain of sand gets between the folds of the oysterand its shell and irritates the beast. In self-defense the oyster coversthe sand with a fluid which hardens and forms a pearl."
"I've always known that," said Flo, with a toss of her head.
"Yes; but I want you all to bear it in mind, for it will explain adiscovery I have made. Before I get to that, however, I want to say thatat one time the island of Ceylon supplied the world with its most famouspearls. The early Egyptians discovered them there, as well as on thePersian and Indian coasts. The pearl which Cleopatra is said to havedissolved in wine and swallowed was worth about four hundred thousanddollars in our money; but of course pearls were scarce in her day. Asingle pearl was cut in two and used for earrings for the statue of Venusin the Pantheon at Rome, and the sum paid for it was equal to about aquarter of a million dollars. Sir Thomas Gresham, in the days of QueenElizabeth, had a pearl valued at about seventy-five thousand dollarswhich he treated in the same manner Cleopatra did, dissolving it in wineand boasting he had given the most expensive dinner ever known."
"All of which--" began Maud, impatiently.
"All of which, Miss Stanton, goes to show that pearls have been of greatprice since the beginning of history. Nowadays we get just as valuablepearls from the South Seas, and even from Panama, St. Margarita and theCaromandel Coast, as ever came from Ceylon. But only those of rare size,shape or color are now valued at high prices. For instance, a string ofmatched pearls such as that owned by Princess Lemoine is estimated asworth only eighty thousand dollars, because it could be quite easilyduplicated. The collection of Countess Ahmberg was noted for its varietyof shapes and colors more than for its large or costly pearls; and thatleads to my great discovery."
"Thank heaven," said Flo, with a sigh.
"I have discovered that our famous expert. Le Drieux, is anarrant humbug."
"We had suspected that," remarked Maud.
"Now we know it," declared Colby. "Pearls, I have learned, change theircolor, their degree of luster, even their weight, according toatmospheric conditions and location. A ten-penny-weight pearl in Viennamight weigh eight or nine pennyweights here in California, or it is morelikely to weigh twelve. The things absorb certain moistures and chemicalsfrom the air and sun, and shed those absorptions when kept in darkness orfrom the fresh air. Pearls die, so to speak; but are often restored tolife by immersions in sea-water, their native element. As for color: thepink and blue pearls often grow white, at times, especially if kept longin darkness, but sun-baths restore their former tints. In the same way awhite pearl, if placed near the fumes of ammonia, changes to a pinkishhue, while certain combinations of chemicals render them black, or'smoked.' A clever man could steal a pink pearl, bleach it white, andsell it to its former owner without its being recognized. Therefore, whenour expert, Le Drieux, attempts to show that the pearls found in Jones'possession are identical with those stolen from the Austrian lady, hefails to allow for climatic or other changes and cannot be accurateenough to convince anyone who knows the versatile characteristics ofthese gems."
"Ah, but does the judge know that, Mr. Colby?" asked Maud.
"I shall post him. After that, the conviction of the prisoner will beimpossible."
"Do you think the examination will be held to-day?" inquired Mr. Merrick.
"I cannot tell that. It will depend upon the mood of Judge Wilton. If hefeels grouchy or disagreeable, he is liable to postpone the case. If heis in good spirits and wants to clear his docket he may begin theexamination at ten o'clock, to-day, which is the hour set for it."
"Is your evidence ready, Mr. Colby?"
"Such as I can command, Miss Stanton," he replied. "Last evening I wiredNew York for information as to the exact amount of stock Jones owns inthe Continental, and I got a curious reply. The stock is valued atnineteen hundred thousand dollars, but no one believes that Jones ownsit personally. It is generally thought that for politic reasons the youngman was made the holder of stock for several different parties, who stillown it, although it is in Jones' name. The control of stock withoutownership is not unusual. It gives the real owners an opportunity to hidebehind their catspaw, who simply obeys their instructions."
"I do not believe that Jones is connected with anyone in that manner,"said Mr. Merrick.
"Nor do I," asserted Aunt Jane. "His interference with Goldstein's plansproves he is under no obligations to others, for he has actedarbitrarily, in accordance with his personal desires and against thefinancial interests of the concern."
"Why didn't you ask him about this, instead of wiring to New York?"demanded Maud.
"He might not give us exact information, under the circumstances,"said Colby.
The girl frowned.
"Jones is not an ordinary client," continued the lawyer, coolly. "Hewon't tell me anything about himself, or give me what is known as'inside information.' On the contrary, he contents himself with sayinghe is innocent and I must prove it. I'm going to save the young man, butI'm not looking to him for much assistance."
Maud still frowned. Presently she said:
"I want to see Mr. Jones. Can you arrange an interview for me, sir?"
"Of course. You'd better go into town with me this morning. If theexamination is held, you will see Jones then. If it's postponed, you mayvisit him in the jail."
Maud reflected a moment.
"Very well," said she, "I'll go with you." Then, turning to her aunt, shecontinued: "You must make my excuses to Mr. Goldstein, Aunt Jane."
Mrs. Montrose eyed her niece critically.
"Who will accompany you, Maud?" she asked.
"Why, I'll go," said Patsy Doyle; and so it was settled, Uncle Johnagreeing to escort the young ladies and see them safely home again.