human
What happened then?
gpt
We came downstairs, said Peaches slowly, twisting the amber beads about her throat,
human
Mark, pa and myself along with these two cowbird detectives. I tell you, Free, I just could hardly believe the story they told. But I had to, in the end. You see, for one thing, as I sat there I began to realize I had seen the Pedro once before.
gpt
Where?
human
In a London movie house--and in a hotel bedroom at Monte Carlo,
gpt
There! I cried.
human
I foiled him twice, you see! Now it's a lucky thing I wasn't there last night, isn't it? Humph! I'd probably have defeated justice again! But what did he say?
gpt
He's been after Sandro for years, she narrated.
human
I am afraid there isn't the shadow of a doubt, Free, but that Sandy is the cleverest picture thief in the world. They have almost got him half a dozen times, but never with conclusive evidence. And thank God, they didn't get him this time, either--not yet at least! Why, do you know, they are certain that he took the Scarpia panels? It seems, if you remember, that they thought that they had been found in the cellar. But it wasn't the originals that they found. They were reproductions--synthetic pictures, like a near-ruby--do you get me?
gpt
But the recovery was reported in the papers,
human
The French Government hushed the matter up in order to try and catch him off his guard, she went on.
gpt
And, Free, that's just what he has done in this very house.
human
How do you mean--explain yourself grammatically if possible,
gpt
I mean that the Madonna of the Lamp which is hanging in the library at this moment is the bunk, replied Peaches earnestly.
human
It's a fake--painted on new canvas and nicely antiqued. The cops took it down and showed it to us.
gpt
And what did he want to steal a fake for?
human
He didn't want to steal a fake, you dear old prune! said Peaches, half laughing.
gpt
He wanted to steal the original, and that's exactly what he did.
human
And got away with it! I gasped, astonished into a colloquialism.
gpt
But when and how on earth?
human
Very simple, but clever, she told me, quite as if it were to the young man's credit.
gpt
He had this fake all ready on a stretcher in his room. He took the original, stretcher and all, out of the frame and upstairs, where he unmounted it and hid it--it isn't large, you know. And then, before he could slip the substitute into place, you and I came in from the garden--from the garden where we had been waiting for him to--to----
human
Come, come, my dear! I cried.
gpt
Don't do that--just remember what a lucky escape you have had. So we interrupted him before he could put the substitute in place! Well, land of goodness! I do recall that he was all dressed when he came down stairs at Mr. Markheim's command! Go on, do, my dear!
human
Well, said Peaches, complying with renewed composure,
gpt
Extraordinary! Most extraordinary! I exclaimed, pulling off my nightcap and starting to rise.
human
I must really dress and descend to take a look at that picture and the scene of the crime!
gpt
You can't! said Peaches, suddenly listless.
human
You can't--we are both locked in!
gpt
Locked in! I repeated incredulously.
human
What on earth are you saying, Alicia Pegg?
gpt
I was saying a mouthful! she responded.
human
Pa has locked us in.
gpt
But what for?
human
I told him I was going to follow Sandro,
gpt
Are you crazy? I cried.
human
Follow him--follow that thief--that--that scoundrel? Aren't the police following him? Isn't that following enough?
gpt
That's just why, she announced.
human
Wherever he is--wherever he goes, I am going too. After last night I can't do anything else. And if it's to jail--all right, I'll go to jail. But I won't stay away from him, and I will find him if the secret-service can't, and I hope most heartily they will make a flivver of it. And I'll never leave him again--believe me!