The Duchess of Wiltshires Diamonds | Page 7

case
thou wilt need to have all thy wits about thee. Tell me is it in thy power,
oh most cunning of all craftsmen, to insert such extra sides within this
box that they, being held by a spring, shall lie so snug as not to be
noticeable to the ordinary eye? Can it be so arranged that, when the box

is locked, they shall fall flat upon the bottom thus covering and holding
fast what lies beneath them, and yet making the box appear to the eye
as if it were empty. Is it possible for thee to do such a thing?"
Wajib Baksh did not reply for a few moments. His instinct told him
what his master wanted, and he was not disposed to answer hastily, for
he also saw that his reputation as the most cunning craftsman in India
was at stake.
"If the Heaven-born will permit me the night for thought," he said at
last, "I will come to him when he rises from his bed and tell him what I
can do, and he can then give his orders as it pleases him."
"Very good," said Carne. "Then tomorrow morning I shall expect thy
report. Let the work be good and there will be many rupees for thee to
touch in return. As to the lock and the way it shall act, let that be the
concern of Hiram Singh."
Wajib Baksh salaamed and withdrew, and Simon Carne for the time
being dismissed the matter from his mind.
Next morning, while he was dressing, Belton reported that the two
artificers desired an interview with him. He ordered them to be
admitted, and forthwith they entered the room. It was noticeable that
Wajib Baksh carried in his hand a heavy box, which, upon Carne's
motioning him to do so, he placed upon the table.
"Have ye thought over the matter?" he asked, seeing that the men
waited for him to speak.
"We have thought of it," replied Hiram Singh, who always acted as
spokesman for the pair. "If the Presence will deign to look he will see
that we have made a box of the size and shape such as he drew upon
the paper."
"Yes, it is certainly a good copy," said Carne condescendingly, after he
had examined it.

Wajib Baksh showed his white teeth in appreciation of the compliment,
and Hiram Singh drew closer to the table.
"And now, if the Sahib will open it, he will in his wisdom be able to tell
if it resembles the other that he has in his mind."
Carne opened the box as requested, and discovered that the interior was
an exact counterfeit of the Duchess of Wiltshire's jewel case, even to
the extent of the quilted leather lining which had been the other's
principal feature. He admitted that the likeness was all that could be
desired.
"As he is satisfied," said Hiram Singh, "it may be that the Protector of
the Poor will deign to try an experiment with it. See, here is a comb.
Let it be placed in the box, so--now he will see what he will see."
The broad, silver-backed comb, lying upon his dressing-table, was
placed on the bottom of the box, the lid was closed, and the key turned
in the lock. The case being securely fastened, Hiram Singh laid it
before his master.
"I am to open it, I suppose?" said Carne, taking the key and replacing it
in the lock.
"If my master pleases," replied the other.
Carne accordingly turned it in the lock, and, having done so, raised the
lid and looked inside. His astonishment was complete. To all intents
and purposes the box was empty. The comb was not to be seen, and yet
the quilted sides and bottom were, to all appearances, just the same as
when he had first looked inside.
"This is most wonderful," he said. And indeed it was as clever a
conjuring trick as any he had ever seen.
"Nay, it is very simple," Wajib Baksh replied. "The Heaven-born told
me that there must be no risk of detection."

He took the box in his own hands and, running his nails down the
centre of the quilting, dividing the false bottom into two pieces; these
he lifted out, revealing the comb lying upon the real bottom beneath.
"The sides, as my lord will see," said Hiram Singh, taking a step
forward, "are held in their appointed places by these two springs. Thus,
when the key is turned the springs relax, and the sides are driven by
others into their places on the bottom, where the seams in the quilting
mask the join. There is but one disadvantage. It is as follows: When the
pieces which form the bottom are lifted out in order that my