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m to door no 1705mandd knocked. “Who is it?” called Sadler from the other side of the door. “It’s me, Ruskin.” “You,” she screamed with surprise and fear. The conductor looked at them. “Poor thing. Bad nerves.” Caselli said in a confidential tone to the conductor. “Please open the door, Elisabeth,” Ruskin said. “I’m afraid I have bad news.” The door opened ajar and Sadler’s confused face looked out. Her eyes settled on Caselli. Her eybros knitted.“Her? Why did you bring that—” “Please Beth,” Caselli interrupted. “Can we not bury the past for a moment?” “Beth?” “Please let us in.” Ruskin said. Sadler opened the door. Ruskin turned his back to the conductor, as he walked in, hoping the man would take the opportunity to go away. He didn’t. Apparently, he didn’t mind drama as long as he was a spectator. They entered the living room of Sadler’s suite. The light from gaslamps reflected in polished dark wood and a silver framed mirror. The air smelled of fresh flowers. A table beside an armchair held a cup of tea and a book. Keeping his back to the railway official Ruskin blinked at Sadler. “It’s about your fiancé, I’m afraid he has been murdered.” “Murdered?” she gasped. “But I don’t have a fiance.” Caselli took a step forward. “We know you changed your mind about the marriage, but legally you are still engaged.” Ruskin got the idea and followed up, “You are engaged.” “Thank you so much.” Caselli gently guided the conductor to the door, opened the door for him and smiled. Hee walked out. Caselli closed the door doftly and spun around. “Where’s the damn pearl?” Sadler turned to Ruskin. “Why is she here?” Ruskin stared at Caselli while answering Sadler, “Give me the pear, Sadler.” “I don’t have it.” “She’s lying.” “Shut your mouth,” Sadler shot back. “What do you mean, you don’t have it?” “I just don’t. And I’m not sure I like your tone.” “What have you done with it?” “What business is that of yours? It’s ours. I can do what I want with it.” “I’ll make her talk.” Caselli took a step towards Sadler how took a step towards Ruskin. “Sadler, this is more important than I can tell you.” “I gave to the man.” “What man?” “The man I … my uncle is not rich. A friend gave him the diamond to buy the brooch. All he wanted was to borrow it for a time before we got it. So I was told, that once I had bought the pearl, I should go to the station and take the first westbound train. A man would contact me, and I should give him the pearl and he would bring it to uncle’s friend.” “So you have given it to a man on this train.” Sadler nodded. “And we will get it back later. So all is good. But, oh, I’m so sorry I ran away with it. But… I was afraid you would take it from me. You seemed so, almost obsessed after I told you that silly story about how we thought it could explode.” “Explode? Now, what kind of silly story is that, Ruskin?” “As if you didn’t suspect what the pearl really is.”“Do you have a way to contact this man?” Sadler shook her head. “Can you recognize him?” “I believe so.” If Ruskin had been sent to pick up a delivery on a train, he would be sure to get off the train as soon as he had picked up the item. Put as much distance between him and the courier as possible. If the man would do the same he would geet off the train the next time a chaser caught up, they might be able to locate the man when they passed Vienna. But the man might simoky choose to stay on. “You say you’ve never met the man?” Sadler demonstratively ddidnæt speak, but nodded. “Did you exchange codeword?” “Ofcourse not. Why would a stranger ask me for Lucifer’s Eye?” “Is that what he did? Did he actually say Lucficer’s Eye’” “He did.” He exchanged a look with Caselli. She went and pulled the bell rope while Ruskin went to the desk, and pulled douthispen. On the cruise liners stationery he wrote. Lucifer’s Eye. I forgot to give you one item. Please call on me.” There was a knock on the door, and Caselli let in a uniformed “servant”. Ruskin gave him the paper and some bills. “Please distribute this to all message boards. And keep an eye out for the codeword.” The man bowed and left. “If that doesn’t work, we might get him in Vienna.” “I know,” Caselli said, “but now we need to define a tactic for when we meet the man. Either here or out in the open.” “I for one would like to eat while we do that.” Ruskin grabbed the room service menu from the table.