The Duchess of Wiltshires Diamonds | Page 2

fur coat, the collar of which he had
turned up round his ears, thus making a fitting frame for his delicate
face. On seeing Lord Amberley he hastened forward to greet him.
"This is most kind and friendly of you," he said as he shook the other
by the hand. "A fine day and Lord Amberley to meet me. One could
scarcely imagine a better welcome."
As he spoke, one of his Indian servants approached and salaamed
before him. He gave him an order, and received an answer in
Hindustani, whereupon he turned again to Lord Amberley.
"You may imagine how anxious I am to see my new dwelling," he said.
"My servant tells me that my carriage is here, so may I hope that you
will drive back with me and see for yourself how I am likely to be
lodged."
"I shall be delighted," said Lord Amberley, who was longing for the
opportunity, and they accordingly went out into the station yard
together to discover a brougham, drawn by two magnificent horses, and
with Nur Ali, in all the glory of white raiment and crested turban, on

the box, waiting to receive them. His lordship dismissed his Victoria,
and when Jowur Singh had taken his place beside his fellow servant
upon the box, the carriage rolled out of the station yard in the direction
of Hyde Park.
"I trust her ladyship is quite well," said Simon Carne politely, as they
turned into Gloucester Place.
"Excellently well, thank you," replied his lordship. "She bade me
welcome you to England in her name as well as my own, and I was to
say that she is looking forward to seeing you."
"She is most kind, and I shall do myself the honour of calling upon her
as soon as circumstances will permit," answered Carne. "I beg you will
convey my best thanks to her for her thought of me."
While these polite speeches were passing between them they were
rapidly approaching a large hoarding on which was displayed a poster
setting forth the name of the now famous detective, Klimo.
Simon Carne, leaning forward, studied it, and when they had passed,
turned to his friend again.
"At Victoria and on all the hoardings we meet I see an enormous
placard, bearing the word ' Klimo.' Pray, what does it mean?"
His lordship laughed.
"You are asking a question which, a month ago, was on the lips of nine
out of every ten Londoners. It is only within the last fortnight that we
have learned who and what 'Klimo' is."
"And pray what is he?"
"Well, the explanation is very simple. He is neither more nor less than a
remarkably astute private detective, who has succeeded in attracting
notice in such a way that half London has been induced to patronise
him. I have had no dealings with the man myself. But a friend of mine,

Lord Orpington, has been the victim of a most audacious burglary, and,
the police having failed to solve the mystery, he has called Klimo in.
We shall therefore see what he can do before many days are past. But,
there, I expect you will soon know more about him than any of us."
"Indeed! And why?"
"For the simple reason that he has taken No. 1, Belverton Terrace, the
house adjoining your own, and sees his clients there."
Simon Carne pursed up his lips, and appeared to be considering
something.
"I trust he will not prove a nuisance," he said at last. "The agents who
found me the house should have acquainted me with the fact. Private
detectives, on however large a scale, scarcely strike one as the most
desirable of neighbours--particularly for a man who is so fond of quiet
as myself."
At this moment they were approaching their destination. As the
carriage passed Belverton Street and pulled up, Lord Amberley pointed
to a long line of vehicles standing before the detective's door.
"You can see for yourself something of the business he does," he said.
"Those are the carriages of his clients, and it is probable that twice as
many have arrived on foot."
"I shall certainly speak to the agent on the subject," said Carne, with a
shadow of annoyance upon his face. "I consider the fact of this man's
being so close to me a serious drawback to the house."
Jowur Singh here descended from the box and opened the door in order
that his master and his guest might alight, while portly Ram Gafur, the
butler, came down the steps and salaamed before them with Oriental
obsequiousness. Carne greeted his domestics with kindly
condescension, and then, accompanied by the ex-Viceroy, entered his
new abode.

"I think you may congratulate yourself upon having secured one of the
most desirable residences in London," said his