“We don’t know,” said Nightingale. He paused. “But could you tell me, in detail, what she had? It would help us, to know what’s been taken, and if we should recover—”

“Quite so, quite so. I made a few rough notes while I was at Bright’s Row, though I could remember the more outstanding items. I drew up a full list for my partners, but unfortunately I haven’t it by me. It’s at the office. You wanted to see it tonight?”

Nightingale hesitated. There was a risk. He decided to take it. “No, thank you,” he said, “tomorrow morning will be soon enough. When may I call?”

“My dear sir, at any time.”

“Thank you. Could you also give a rough valuation?”

Mr. Majendie darted one of his sharp glances at Nightingale. “Why do you ask for that?”

“Because,” explained Nightingale, incredulous that Majendie should need telling, “if there’s a reward offered, someone may inform. We can’t offer the reward, obviously, but we could co-operate with a firm of—”

“Of course, of course. But surely Ivan Karukhin would be prepared to indemnify—” Mr. Majendie stopped to look inquiringly at Nightingale, who said nothing. Mr. Majendie’s face grew thoughtful. “Well, well, no matter,” he said. “You shall have a valuation.”

“An estimate from memory would be enough.” Nightingale paused. “You spoke of a treasure,” he reminded Majendie quietly, “and of a considerable undertaking.”

Mr. Majendie frowned, and put the tips of his fingers together. “Yes—but it’s very difficult—a treasure, certainly, especially to a lover of all forms of jewellery. But much of it, you see, would not have found a ready buyer—it belonged to an awkward period, not yet restored to grace by the turn of taste and fashion. Most of the pieces would have had to be broken up for the sake of the gems, and even then, a great number of those were rose diamonds, for which there’s almost no demand in modern jewellery. Again, some of the pieces were silver set—and silver, you know, has quite lost to platinum and palladium. So when I spoke of a considerable undertaking, and the need to consult my partners, you must realise that it was in the sense of responsibility.” Mr. Majendie leaned forward to poke the fire.

“Oh. You had no misgivings, afterwards, of the Princess’s ability to keep her property safe? Perhaps if you had set a security officer to watch—”

“But my dear sir,” objected Mr. Majendie in great surprise, “the trunk and its contents had not yet become our property. The firm, I am happy to say, was in no way dependent on the sale. Why should we have troubled?”

“I see,” said Nightingale. He rose. “Thank you very much for your help. I’m sorry I had to call so late in the evening.”