"Of course I can see you as often as I please without exciting any
suspicion. You were, while yourself and prosperous, only one of my
countless patients, never among those I made much of. You, as Phorbas,
have been under my special care, as the darling of poor Falco, who was one
of my best friends, though I had known him so short a time. My visits here
cannot prejudice your welfare and may help you, even save you.
"Cheer up! Agathemer says that the real murderers are certain to betray
themselves by attempting to dispose of some of the stolen gems. He is
right. And he had taken measures to ensnare them. He has warned or is
warning every gem-dealer in Rome, from Orontides himself down to the most
disreputable scoundrel who makes a living by exchanging his cash for
stolen gems. He has sent off despatches already along many postroads, by
the couriers who set out at dawn, notifying all gem-dealers in the towns
along these roads to be on the watch for the miscreants. He will continue
this until the warning is all over Italy from Rhegium and Brundisium to
the Alps, and that within a few days. Those precious gentry are certain to
be nabbed either in Rome or elsewhere. Whenever they are identified and in
durance it will be easy to clear you.
Pages:
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828