Page 21 of The Trick of the Treasure
Barnabas Lloyd tookthe newly delivered parcel into his study after dinner. It no longer seemed quite so exciting to unwrap the objects within. But it was the only way to admire his treasure, the only proof he had that he had ever found and possessed it.
Slowly, he unwrapped the parcel and spread the contents over his desk. Several glass plates and the photographs printed on paper from them. Some were taken on the island, amongst the reedy, swampy ground where they had dug the treasure up, some on the deck of the ship.
Quickly after that, he found his favorite. Barnabas himself, dressed in his light suit and sun hat, stood beside the chest, which was held open by two of his men grinning at the camera. Sydney and the others crouched around it looked awed and happy.
All the photographs were unexpectedly clear and sharp—Sydney, his chief informant about the latest process, was right about that—and this one managed to portray something of the sparkle of the treasures visible within the chest. Barnabas wished the picture could show the extraordinary colors, rather than the mere shades of light and dark. But even so, it was a fine photograph, and one he would have been proud to show in the exhibition of his treasure he had planned to hold around the auction.
His smile faded. Someone in his household had betrayed him. He wanted to believe it was an outsider who had somehow broken in without leaving a trace, but that was even more unlikely than the alternative. Perhaps the strangely refinedSilver and Grey could find out and relocate his treasure. Perhaps the police could.
Unlikely. It would be broken up and sold for a pittance.
He ran his finger over the photograph, almost caressing the flat, colorless treasure.
A brief knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” he called.
Sydney wandered in. “Garrick said you wanted me.”
“Just to show you these, since you were so interested in the process.”
“The photographs!” Sydney’s step sped up until he peered over his father’s shoulder. “These are excellent. I still wonder if there is a way to make a living in photography?”
“You are a gentleman,” Barnabas snapped. “You do notearn a living.”
“Then I’m likely to starve,” Sydney retorted. “Since your precious strong room couldn’t hold the treasure that was to save the family fortunes. At least until the next expedition.”
Barnabas curled his lip. “Then by all means go out into the world,” he said, spreading his arm toward the window. “Make your own way. Don’t let me hold you back. I’m sure there is a place somewhere for a talentless dilettante who is best at drinking, gambling, and whoring.”
Sydney straightened. “Which reminds me,” he drawled. “Best get on. Goodnight, Papa.”
Barnabas felt like hurling the glass plates after his son as he sauntered insolently out of the room. Fortunately, he had not reached that level of self-destruction.
Chapter Five
“How did itgo?” Solomon asked Constance when they met over coffee in the office the following morning.
Janey, who had opened up before he got there, had already greeted him with a beaming smile and a startling kiss on the cheek, so he knew the word was out and his doubts about Constance’s commitment to their marriage began to evaporate. Still, he wanted to hear the news from her point of view.
She did not pretend to misunderstand his question. She never played such games. “They were somewhat surprised, and all wished us well. Ithinkthey are reassured. Janey helped.”
He nodded and left the matter alone. “To the case, then. What should be our next step forward? Finding out if the Lloyds are acquainted with any of the collectors on your mother’s list?”
She nodded. “I think so. Also, any other serious collectors who have ever been in the house. Perhaps look into the Devine boy, too, since Jemimah met him in the garden after the rest of the house retired.”
“It strikes me we should also speak again to Jemimah herself. And to the rest of the family. Something is wrong there.”
She nodded. “Perhaps you should go back there. I am not quite dressed for it.”
For the first time, he realized she was in her dull clothes. In fact, he rarely noticed what she wore, for it never changed who she was or dimmed her beauty.
“I have a slightly different errand this morning,” she said ruefully. “Establishment business. But it should not take me long. I can find Benjamin Devine after that and meet you back here for luncheon?”
“Hopefully, we shall have some new clues to follow by then.”
“Um…one more thing.” She smoothed her hand over her skirts. “I have given Janey leave to pursue another case for a friend who cannot pay. I’ve also said she can employ Lenny Knox should the need arise. I know it’s not Silver and Grey business, so I am happy to pay for Lenny and the inconvenience of not having Janey here all day.”
By the time he had disabused her of that notion and heard the story of Bibby Barton, they had finished their coffee.
