May 15, 2025 • 24 mins
Step into the world of Victorian London, filled with humor, crime, and adventure. Follow a unique group of men who, having exhausted lifes pleasures, form a Burglars Club for some much-needed excitement. Here, membership comes with a price - a city burglary as an entrance fee, set by their president. Every other year, each member needs to maintain his subscription through a provincial line. This gripping tale skillfully intertwines the thrill of crime with the charm of camaraderie.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter three of The Burglars Club, a romance in twelve chronicles.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Read by Philip Erickson, The Burglars
Club by Henry Augustus Herring. The luck of the Illingworths
(00:21):
Danby Travers was annoyed. He was one of the founders
of the Burglars Club. His entrance fee had been the
temporary abstraction from the crown jewels of the coinor itself.
Two years ago. He had kept up his membership by
the burglar of the Duchess of Guysely Emeralds, and now
by the unkindness of fate or the simple custedness of
his committee, he could only renew his subscription by purloining
the black pearl of Agny. It showed the folly of
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becoming the champion jewel burglar of the club. Of course,
it was pure coincidence, for only four people knew that
he was in love with Mary Illingworth. Mary knew it
because he had told her Lord and Lady Illingworth, because
they had been fatuously consulted in the matter, and he
Danby Travers because of a stuffy, despairing feeling somewhere in
his chest from the moment of awakening in the morning
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down to the last gleam of consciousness at night. But
the Burglars Club did not know it, nor did they
know that Lord Illingworth had told him that in future
he was not to cross the baronial threshold. And all
because despite his brilliant record in India and at Hurlingham,
he Danby Travers was as poor as a chapel mouse.
Therefore he received the mandate of the club with something
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less than his usual urbanity. But reflection brought a Mephistophelian
suggestion of comfort. He had been unable to rob Lord
Illingworth of his fairest daughter, he would at any rate
perloin his most valued jewel, the Black Pearl of Agny,
was world renowned. During the military operations in the Western
Deccan in eighteen o three, it had been looted by
a certain Major Illingworth of the Bengal Native Infantry from
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a rich temple dedicated to the Hindu god of Fire.
From that day his fortunes had prospered amazingly. Promotion came
for the asking wealth by marriage and bequest influenced social
and plata had followed, and a title succeeding generations had
added to the score. Two descendants of the Stepoy Major
had attained cabinet rank, and the present peer had won
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the derby. The luck of the Illingworths had become proverbial.
The jewel was kept at Knowlesworth. Travers knew the place well.
He had spent a fortnight there, and there he had
made love to Mary Illingworth. She had shown him the pearl,
and because he was to be her husband, had shown
him the secret of its hiding place. Little did he
think at the time that the next occasion on which
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he entered that room would be as a burglar, an
amateur wanted as true, but still a burglar. No wonder
that Danby Travers was annoyed. The only justification for his
conduct that he could think of was that the temporary
loss of the pearl would probably have a beneficial effect
on Lord Illingworth's character. He had received the secretary's intimation
on the Friday morning he had to show the pearl
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at the next meeting of the club on the following
Tuesday night. That gave him four days for the business.
Knowlesworth was sure to be full of visitors, for Lord
Illingworth had succeeded a late Master of Balliol in entertaining
the most distinguished weekend parties in the country. Travers turned
to the post, certain to find the list. Ah, here
it was Lord and Lady Illingworth are having a large
party at Knowlesworth, entertaining the Bohemian Ambassador and Countess Polski,
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the Duke of Strathpeffer, the Marquess and Marchioness of Bridlington,
the Dean of Penzance, Professor Rawson, and others. What a crew,
thought Travers. Wouldn't Strathpeffer be pleased if I came a cropper?
I wonder he can go thereafter Mary's last refusal. I'll
wait till they thin a bit. Some are sure to
go on Monday, So Monday night is my best time
for the job now for Bradshaw. On the following Monday night,
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Travers took a second class ticket at charing Cross. In
order to minimize the chance of running against friends from
sheer curiosity, he chose a compartment in which two singular
looking men were already seated. The weather was by no
means cold, yet they were swathed in winter clothing. Thick
mufflers were round their necks. Their faces were partly hidden
by the wraps and partly shaded by the broad brims
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of silk hats built about the time of the Crimean War.
But their race was unmistakable to Travers. At least they
were Hindus, the tall one probably a man of caste,
the poddry person possibly a baboo. In his interest at
coming across these strange people, Travers forgot his ultimate objective.
He settled himself in his corner, prepared either to join
in conversation with or merely to watch his quaint fellow travelers.
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On his entrance, they had turned their eyes upon him,
but they had resumed their conversation. As the train got
on its way, they raised their voices, and, confident of
not being understood, they spoke with absolute unrestraint. Travers, with
knowledge derived from ten years service in the Madras and
Indian Staff Corps, was easily able to follow their talk.
At last, said the tall man, as the train moved
out of the station. At last repeated the other buck up.
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Now is the conclusion of your spacious quest, say, rather
the beginning? So far it has been easy, despite the
horror of mingling with these barbarians. To lose caste was foreseen.
But now we enter upon the unknown. Nevertheless, I take
the liberty of emphasizing the necessity of bucking up. Tomorrow
you will be a thrice happy man, and I will
weave a garland of marigolds for your honorable head. Gosh
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this as the train entered a tunnel with a hideous shriek.
It is a taste of the underworld, he added. The
tall man shuddered and remained silent. As the train emerged.
His companion gave a very credible imitation of the whistle
in the tunnel. The tall man smiled sadly. Ramaalaal, he said,
I envy you your merry disposition. It was in a
good moment that I met thee in Bombay. Babougie, you
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have served me well in guiding me hither and in
enlivening me on the long journey. Your honor is pleased
to be excessively gracious, said the Baboo with absurd complacency. Indeed,
my tip top spirits have been of much service to
myself and many other honorable gentlemen, and have been extraordinarily
admired by English ladies. He pulled out his watch. In
the space of half an hour, we shall arrived at
our long intended destination. So soon show me the plan again.
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To refresh my memory. The baboo produced a piece of
paper over which they bent their heads. Here the railway
station at which we shall dismount. This pink streak is
the highway road along which we shall travel, eventually reaching
the big brass gates belonging to ancestral home. A little
beyond is a diminutive wall, which we ascend and descend.
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Then we step across the park and round the lake.
Here and here this sepia mark is water. Now we
are in the pleasure garden. This is the hinder part
of the house. Here is the right wing, the fifth
window in the second row. That is your bull's eye.
Go on, said his companion gloomily. Your honor will divest
yourself of polished hat and other garments, which you will
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transfer to my care in summer house. Here behold it
painted in vermilion. You will climb up to the window inferior,
but friendly servant has arranged that it shall open easily.
Once in the room, The deed is as good as accomplished.
You know the hiding place of the jewel? Travis started,
the hiding place of the jewel, Yes, said the gloomy Hindoo.
I know it. But Krishna Burkert knew it twenty five
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years ago, and the Swami Ramnath knew it fifty years
years ago, and yet another swami seventy five years ago.
But none of these restored it to the temple of Agny.
All failed in their quest and never regained their caste.
I too, shall fail. Allow me to have the felicity
of indicating at least one point of difference between your
honor and gentleman mentioned, replied the Babu. Your honor has
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intelligent assistant, while enumerated catalog had not have the kindness
to point out fly in our ointment. It is distinguished
by its absence. The jewel is yours. Perish the jewel,
cried the other Hindu in a sudden outburst of fury.
Why couldn't the Hazur have left it alone or have
taken another jewel? Why should he have singled out the
one above all others necessary to the happiness of Agny?
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And why should I have all the priests of the
temple be chosen to restore the sacred stone. Here, with
five thousand miles of space between us, I declare to you, Ramailal,
I do not fear the wrath of Agny. I call
him humbug. I read Shakespeare, I write him an ass.
I am doubtful even of Vishnu and Siva. Travers paid
no attention to Ramilal's reproachful reply. He was lost in amazement.
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Here on the very night he had chosen for purloining
the jewel. Two other men were on the same errand stop.
There was a reason for their date. They had mentioned
twenty five, fifty and seventy five years. It was evidently
an anniversary. Every twenty five years an attempt had to
be made to restore the jewel to the temple of Agny.
Three attempts had already been made in Vain, and now,
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on the hundredth anniversary of the theft by Major Illingworth,
another attempt was in progress. At any rate, he was
forewarned the house was a mile and a half away
from the station, by the main road on which the
Hindus were going. He knew a cut across the fields
was shortened the distance by half a mile. He would
gain ten minutes. In that ten minutes he had to
obtain the pearl. The train pulled up at Knowlesworth station.
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The two Hindus stepped out. Travers followed. He watched them
start along the road. Then he briskly cut across country.
The church clock struck eight as he reached the terrace
in front of the hall. From the beginning he had
matured only only one plan of campaign. He knew the
rules of the house and he would take advantage of them.
From eight to nine, the men's servants were busy in
the dining room. Anyone could open the main outer door
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and enter. He might of course be seen, and in
this eventuality Travers relied upon his being known to LA's suspicion.
He was an evening dress and temporarily at any rate
would strike a servant as being one of the guests.
The nominal dinner hour was eight. It had been his
intention to enter at eight twenty in order to allow
for any delay, either on the part of the kitchen
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or the guests. Dinners at Knowlesworth were notoriously unpunctual, and
if he entered now he might run into the house party,
or meet stragglers on the stairs. He must wait. But
the Hindus were marching down the road. Each instant brought
them nearer. In ten, no, in eight minutes, they would
be in the garden. Yet he dared not enter. He
waited impatiently in the shadow of the great portico. It
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was now eight ten. He would make an attempt. He
slowly pushed back the heavy door and entered the vestibule.
This was cut off from the hall by big glass doors,
and then by heavy curtains. Still more carefully he opened
the inner door, and then quickly closed it again. Through
the opening had come the sound of voices and laughter.
They were gathered in the hall before the fire, waiting
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for the summons to dinner. So there he stayed, cursing
the unpunctuality of the house, and unquietly reflecting that a
casual remark as to the present state of the weather
might lead to the glass door being opened and himself
ignominiously disclosed, and Mary would witness his humiliation. Nay, she
might even be the innocent cause of it. She was
within half a dozen yards of him, now separated only
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by some glass and a curtain. Yet he could not
speak to her, could not even see her. Ah, that
was her laugh, and that Strathpeffer's raucous voice. Hank Strathpeffer.
It was now eight fifteen. The Hindus were in the garden.
The situation was distracting. At any moment they might enter
the temple room. Ah. There was the sound of movement within.
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The guests trooped passed the door. Their voices died away.
All was still. It was nineteen minutes past travers hesitated
no longer. He unbuttoned his top coat and with cap
in hand, as though he were a guest just come
in from a stroll before dinner. He opened the hall door.
No one was in sight. He crossed the hall and
stepped lightly up the stairs. At their head, he passed
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a maid. She certainly took him for a guest. He
went straight down the great corridor and then branched the left.
It was the third door ahead. He pulled back the
panel as Mary had shown him, undid the bolt from within,
and entered. The room was in darkness. He struck a light,
half expecting to find the Hindu disclosed. No, he was alone,
and the pearl still there. It was a room without furniture,
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in the center was a replica of the great Idol
of Agny at the temple from which the pearl had
been looted. The gods sat there, smug, cross legged, and hideous.
The eyes fascinated the beholder. The left one was of marble,
the right made of a stone worth a prince's ransom,
the one known throughout the world as the black Pearl
of Agny. At the god's knees their holders rest on
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the floor were two gigantic candles. Travers lit them. Then
he stepped quickly to the idol and thought the left
hand of the god. He pressed the nail of the
fourth finger. The god's right eyelid lifted, and the complete
stone was disclosed. Travers quickly abstracted it, released the lid,
and put the pearl in his pocket. His object was accomplished.
But what was that? Listen? There was a sound at
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the window. The Hindu was there. Beaten by half a minute.
Travers turned to the door. Then, impelled by an overpowering
curiosity to see the end of the drama, he slipped
to another window and got behind the curtain. There was
a faint whistle from below. Hang it, What a fool
he'd been. The Baboo had seen the momentary disarrangement of
the curtain and had observed his figure against the light,
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and now he was alarming his friend. But the latter
he did not, perhaps he was too excited to understand
or even to hear him. The sash was raised, the
curtain pulled back, and the Hindu stepped into the room.
He was almost naked, and his bare limbs shone with
a coating of oil. He took one step forward and
looked up eagerly into the idol's face. Then a cry
of despair escaped him. The stone for which he had
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traveled five thousand miles was not there. He had lost
his cast. It could never be regained, since he had
failed in his quest. Never again could he see his
native land. Under the crushing blow, he sank a comatose
heap on the floor. The minutes passed and travers shifted
uneasily behind the curtain. There were sounds from the garden,
then approaching footsteps in the corridor. The door was flung
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open and Lord Illingworth burst into the room, revolver in hand.
The Duke of Strathpeffer followed with other guests and some footmen.
The Hindu stared dully at them, but did not move.
He was promptly seized the pearl. Where is it, demanded
Lord Illingworth. The Hindu did not reply. Lord Illingworth pointed
to the empty socket and repeated the question, but the
Hindu merely shook his head. Search him, said Lord Ellingworth.
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He was searched, but of course nothing was found. Lord
Illingworth stood over him. Where's the pearl, he thundered, but
again the Hindu shook his head. Bring in the other man,
said Lord ill Ellingworth. The baboo entered limp and crestfallen,
in charge of two stablemen. A boy carried a silk
cat and some winter clothing. Ask him what he has
done with the pearl, said the peer. Ramaalal put the question.
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I have not got it. It was not here when
I came. The Baboo repeated this to Lord Illingworth. It
is a lie, he replied, it was here an hour ago.
I saw it myself. The Sahib knows that, thou liest,
said Ramaalael to his friend. Tell him a finer tale.
But the Hindu only protested his innocence. What does he say,
demanded Lord Illingworth. He says, replied the facile Baboo that
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no sooner had he taken the pearl than there was
the flash of fire and much smoke. When it cleared away,
the stone had vanished, doubtless agony the god had come
for his own. Lord Illingworth blazed with fury. He has
swallowed it. He said, we shall have to cut him open.
Ramaalael translated this terrific threat. The Hindu gave a yell
despair lent him strength. With a serpentine twist, he slid
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from the grasp of one of his captors and knocked
up the arm of the other. The window was still open.
He sprang through it into the darkness of the night.
Lord Illingworth ran to the window, fired blindly, and then
rushed from the room. The others followed. Only the Baboo,
his two captors, and the boy with the clothes remained.
Come along, said one of the grooms. Stay for one moment.
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I beseech you, said ramaulaal, and let me worship Agne
the god. None of your blarny, returned the man, But
the other, who was of a romantic temperament, said, what's
the odds. Let the heathen do it if he wants.
You see gentlemen, said the baboo eagerly. It is my
very last opportunity. I shall be life long imprisoned for
the inauspicious event of this evening. It is positively my
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last appearance in the open. Let me worship Agne as
I do in my own land. No Englishman has yet
witnessed the entire ceremony. It shall not take long. I
will compress my supplications. Five minutes will be ample dispensation.
The grooms looked at each other, Their curiosity settled the matter.
We'll give you four minutes to look sharp, said one.
Thank you, replied Ramaalaal. Gratefully, Agne will bless you for
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your beneficence. The men released their hold. One closed the window,
the other shut the door and placed himself before it.
Ramaalal took off his silk hat, muffler and coat. He
advanced to the idol and salaamed low three times. Then
he raised his eyes and sang travers knew the song.
It was a ribald ditty of the bazaars, and it
had as much to do with the worship of Agne
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as with the laws of gravitation. He watched the baboo
with increasing interest. He had evidently some ulterior object in view,
But what was it? Ah Ramaalal had gradually approached the idol,
still singing. He had bowed his head till it had
almost touched Agne's knees. Travers hardly saw the movement of
the hands. Only an Oriental could have done it so swiftly.
The two candles were suddenly extinguished, and the room was
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in absolute darkness. With loud imprecations, the two grooms rushed
to where the babou had been, to collide with each
other and incidentally bring down the huge candlesticks. Then recovering,
they dashed about the room in search of their prisoner,
only to seize the boy who had the clothes. Finally,
one of them struck a light. They were alone with
the boy. The window was again wide open. The men
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leaned out. There was no moon. The lights of the
searchers flashed in the distance. They turned blankly to each other.
There'll be pop to pay for this, said the boy,
who was still suffering from rough usage in the dark.
You'll both jolly well get sacked all your blamed fault
for listenin to his tommy rot, said the one man
savagely to his companion, who'd have thought he was so
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cunnin' rejoined the other. What's the good of talkin here?
Come out and look for him. He may have broke
his neck, he added hopefully. Again. The lights flashed in
the garden and then gradually extended beyond. Travers waited until
he was sure there was no one below. Then he
emerged from his recess and followed the Indians through the window,
leaving the park to the searchers. He kept to the
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main avenue and soon gained the high road. A ten
mile walk brought him to Dorton Junction, where he just
missed the last train to town. The sun was high
when Danby Travers reached his rooms, and it was late
in the afternoon When he awoke. The morning papers and
his letters were at his bedside. He at once opened
one of the former, curious to see if there was
any reference to the events of the previous night. Good heavens,
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what was this? Burglary and fire at Knowlesworth? The Illingworth
pearl stolen, the hall gutted. Knowlesworth Hall, the historic seat
of the Illingworths, was last night the scene of two
extraordinary events. Lord and Lady Illingworth were entertaining One of
their famous weekend parties at dinner, when a daring and
successful attempt was made to steal the celebrated Pearl of Agny,
the largest known black pearl in the world. A native
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Indian was found in a summer house in the Italian
Garden by a servant. As several determined attempts to steal
the pearl had already been made, the safety of this
remarkable jewel was at once called into question. Lord Illingworth
and his guests hurried to the temple room where the
great pearl was kept, and there found another native who
was promptly secured. The pearl was missing, and the strictest
search failed to bring it to light. It is believed
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that the thief has swallowed it, act which it is
to be hoped that the X rays will be able
to demonstrate. Owing to gross mismanagement. Somewhere, the two natives
escaped from custody, and it was midnight before they were
again apprehended, one of them at Dorton in a state
of collapse from fear and cold, the other at Lingfield,
defiant but suffering from a sprained ankle. They will be
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brought up tomorrow at the Dorton Petty sessions. Scarcely had
Lord Illingworth and his guests retired to rest after an
exciting evening than they were again alarmed, this time by
an outbreak of fire in the temple room. Its cause
is unknown, but the flames, assisted by a high wind,
spread with extraordinary rapidity in spite of the prompt measures
taken by the Hall. Fire Brigade. Engines quickly arrived from
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Lingfield and Dorton, but the supply of water was totally inadequate,
and it soon became evident that the whole structure was doomed.
At the moment of telegraphing, the fire was raging furiously,
but all sleeping in the house had been rescued without injury.
In one night, Lord Illingworth has lost his great family
jewel and his ancestral seat. The l luck of the
Illingworth's seems to have deserted him. It is a remarkable
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coincidence that a fire consumed the Hindu temple of Agne
the night that the pearl was taken from it by
Major Illingworth in eighteen o three. Agne is the Hindu
god of fire. Thank Heaven, Mary safe ejaculated travers. I
hope she hasn't had a great fright, then after a pause,
and Ramilal caught. After all, he deserved a better fate.
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What an uncommon good thing I got the pearl. If
I hadn't taken it, the Indians would have been well
on the way to Bombay with it by now. And
if neither of us had taken it, the stone might
have been burnt up, would it? Though there mightn't have
been a fire at all. Rummy notion that Agne should
blaze the whole show in revenge for my desecration. It
shan'n't interfere with my feelings of satisfaction. I am a
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public benefactor, an illingworth benefactor. Anyway, I shall explain this
to my lord at an early date. Hello, what's this
a lawyer's letter? I can tell him by the smell?
What's he threatened in this time? But it wasn't a threat.
It was simply an intimation that, under the will of
Colonel Thomas Archer, a distant relative lately deceased, he Danby
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Travers succeeded to the whole estate, a bequest made on
account of intrepidity shown in the recent Irawadi campaign. The
income therefrom, the solicitor added, was estimated at about three
thousand pounds per annum, and he would be pleased to
have an expression of mister Danby Travers's wishes with respect
to the same three thousand pounds a year. Travers jumped
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out of bed and executed a series of gyrations three
thousand pounds a year. That meant Mary, but did it?
It was a fortune to him? But how would Lord
Illingworth view it? Well? If he didn't like it? He needn't.
Mary and he were now independent of everybody. He made
his way to the burglar's meeting in a blur of happiness.
He was rather late. Other men were there already, and
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they won and all congratulated him. Aren't you rather premature?
He asked? You haven't seen the pearl yet? Bott of
the pearls, said Altima, We mean the title. What the
deuce are you're driving at? Haven't you seen the papers?
Crowds of them and lawyer's letters too. My head's buzzing
with them. What is it this time? Your cousin tumbled
down some steps in Vienna last night, and you are
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Lord Travers. Now that's all. Danby sat down. This final
stroke of fortune was too much for him. I can't
say I'm sorry, he bordered at length. Bertram wouldn't have
been sorry if it had been me. And I'm glad
about the title because of here. I say, you, fellows,
what's come over the world since last night? The black
pearl of the Illingworth's has changed hands, we hope, said
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the secretary, who wanted to start the business of the evening.
The black pearl has and the luck of the Illingworths
went with it. They've had a fire and I've got
a bequest and a title. Perhaps you fellows will be
more superstitious in future. That's what brought my luck anyway,
saying which he produced the Black Pearl of Agony to
his unbounded joy and immense surprise. Lord Illingworth received the
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missing stone from London during the course of the next day.
The Indians had been remanded for a week pending further inquiries,
and as they had obviously not stolen the jewel after all,
Lord Illingworth declined to prosecute and they were released from custody.
An unknown friend interested himself in the natives. One of them, Babu,
was sent back to Bombay by an early steamer. The
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other who refused to return to India thanks to the
same unknown benefactor was put in the way of earning
his living by teaching Hindustani. He has since gone over
to the Mohammedan faith. With repossession of the pearl, good
fortune came once more to the Illingworth's. In making excavations
consequent on rebuilding the hall, a coal seam was discovered,
which eventually doubled the family wealth. The Black Pearl of
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Agny is now protected from burglars by many quaint electrical conceits.
When the next anniversary comes round, any Indian visitors will
have a very lively time of it. Later on in
the year, a marriage took place between Mary, younger daughter
of Lord and Lady Illingworth, and Danby ninth Baron Travers,
a nobleman who had been mentioned in despatches in the
Irawadi campaign, and who was not unknown at her life.
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His clubs were Marlborough Brooks's and the Burglars end of
Chapter three
Chapter three of The Burglars Club, a romance in twelve chronicles.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Read by Philip Erickson, The Burglars
Club by Henry Augustus Herring. The luck of the Illingworths
(00:21):
Danby Travers was annoyed. He was one of the founders
of the Burglars Club. His entrance fee had been the
temporary abstraction from the crown jewels of the coinor itself.
Two years ago. He had kept up his membership by
the burglar of the Duchess of Guysely Emeralds, and now
by the unkindness of fate or the simple custedness of
his committee, he could only renew his subscription by purloining
the black pearl of Agny. It showed the folly of
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becoming the champion jewel burglar of the club. Of course,
it was pure coincidence, for only four people knew that
he was in love with Mary Illingworth. Mary knew it
because he had told her Lord and Lady Illingworth, because
they had been fatuously consulted in the matter, and he
Danby Travers because of a stuffy, despairing feeling somewhere in
his chest from the moment of awakening in the morning
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down to the last gleam of consciousness at night. But
the Burglars Club did not know it, nor did they
know that Lord Illingworth had told him that in future
he was not to cross the baronial threshold. And all
because despite his brilliant record in India and at Hurlingham,
he Danby Travers was as poor as a chapel mouse.
Therefore he received the mandate of the club with something
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less than his usual urbanity. But reflection brought a Mephistophelian
suggestion of comfort. He had been unable to rob Lord
Illingworth of his fairest daughter, he would at any rate
perloin his most valued jewel, the Black Pearl of Agny,
was world renowned. During the military operations in the Western
Deccan in eighteen o three, it had been looted by
a certain Major Illingworth of the Bengal Native Infantry from
(01:48):
a rich temple dedicated to the Hindu god of Fire.
From that day his fortunes had prospered amazingly. Promotion came
for the asking wealth by marriage and bequest influenced social
and plata had followed, and a title succeeding generations had
added to the score. Two descendants of the Stepoy Major
had attained cabinet rank, and the present peer had won
(02:10):
the derby. The luck of the Illingworths had become proverbial.
The jewel was kept at Knowlesworth. Travers knew the place well.
He had spent a fortnight there, and there he had
made love to Mary Illingworth. She had shown him the pearl,
and because he was to be her husband, had shown
him the secret of its hiding place. Little did he
think at the time that the next occasion on which
(02:31):
he entered that room would be as a burglar, an
amateur wanted as true, but still a burglar. No wonder
that Danby Travers was annoyed. The only justification for his
conduct that he could think of was that the temporary
loss of the pearl would probably have a beneficial effect
on Lord Illingworth's character. He had received the secretary's intimation
on the Friday morning he had to show the pearl
(02:52):
at the next meeting of the club on the following
Tuesday night. That gave him four days for the business.
Knowlesworth was sure to be full of visitors, for Lord
Illingworth had succeeded a late Master of Balliol in entertaining
the most distinguished weekend parties in the country. Travers turned
to the post, certain to find the list. Ah, here
it was Lord and Lady Illingworth are having a large
party at Knowlesworth, entertaining the Bohemian Ambassador and Countess Polski,
(03:15):
the Duke of Strathpeffer, the Marquess and Marchioness of Bridlington,
the Dean of Penzance, Professor Rawson, and others. What a crew,
thought Travers. Wouldn't Strathpeffer be pleased if I came a cropper?
I wonder he can go thereafter Mary's last refusal. I'll
wait till they thin a bit. Some are sure to
go on Monday, So Monday night is my best time
for the job now for Bradshaw. On the following Monday night,
(03:38):
Travers took a second class ticket at charing Cross. In
order to minimize the chance of running against friends from
sheer curiosity, he chose a compartment in which two singular
looking men were already seated. The weather was by no
means cold, yet they were swathed in winter clothing. Thick
mufflers were round their necks. Their faces were partly hidden
by the wraps and partly shaded by the broad brims
(03:59):
of silk hats built about the time of the Crimean War.
But their race was unmistakable to Travers. At least they
were Hindus, the tall one probably a man of caste,
the poddry person possibly a baboo. In his interest at
coming across these strange people, Travers forgot his ultimate objective.
He settled himself in his corner, prepared either to join
in conversation with or merely to watch his quaint fellow travelers.
(04:23):
On his entrance, they had turned their eyes upon him,
but they had resumed their conversation. As the train got
on its way, they raised their voices, and, confident of
not being understood, they spoke with absolute unrestraint. Travers, with
knowledge derived from ten years service in the Madras and
Indian Staff Corps, was easily able to follow their talk.
At last, said the tall man, as the train moved
out of the station. At last repeated the other buck up.
(04:46):
Now is the conclusion of your spacious quest, say, rather
the beginning? So far it has been easy, despite the
horror of mingling with these barbarians. To lose caste was foreseen.
But now we enter upon the unknown. Nevertheless, I take
the liberty of emphasizing the necessity of bucking up. Tomorrow
you will be a thrice happy man, and I will
weave a garland of marigolds for your honorable head. Gosh
(05:08):
this as the train entered a tunnel with a hideous shriek.
It is a taste of the underworld, he added. The
tall man shuddered and remained silent. As the train emerged.
His companion gave a very credible imitation of the whistle
in the tunnel. The tall man smiled sadly. Ramaalaal, he said,
I envy you your merry disposition. It was in a
good moment that I met thee in Bombay. Babougie, you
(05:30):
have served me well in guiding me hither and in
enlivening me on the long journey. Your honor is pleased
to be excessively gracious, said the Baboo with absurd complacency. Indeed,
my tip top spirits have been of much service to
myself and many other honorable gentlemen, and have been extraordinarily
admired by English ladies. He pulled out his watch. In
the space of half an hour, we shall arrived at
our long intended destination. So soon show me the plan again.
(05:54):
To refresh my memory. The baboo produced a piece of
paper over which they bent their heads. Here the railway
station at which we shall dismount. This pink streak is
the highway road along which we shall travel, eventually reaching
the big brass gates belonging to ancestral home. A little
beyond is a diminutive wall, which we ascend and descend.
(06:14):
Then we step across the park and round the lake.
Here and here this sepia mark is water. Now we
are in the pleasure garden. This is the hinder part
of the house. Here is the right wing, the fifth
window in the second row. That is your bull's eye.
Go on, said his companion gloomily. Your honor will divest
yourself of polished hat and other garments, which you will
(06:34):
transfer to my care in summer house. Here behold it
painted in vermilion. You will climb up to the window inferior,
but friendly servant has arranged that it shall open easily.
Once in the room, The deed is as good as accomplished.
You know the hiding place of the jewel? Travis started,
the hiding place of the jewel, Yes, said the gloomy Hindoo.
I know it. But Krishna Burkert knew it twenty five
(06:57):
years ago, and the Swami Ramnath knew it fifty years
years ago, and yet another swami seventy five years ago.
But none of these restored it to the temple of Agny.
All failed in their quest and never regained their caste.
I too, shall fail. Allow me to have the felicity
of indicating at least one point of difference between your
honor and gentleman mentioned, replied the Babu. Your honor has
(07:19):
intelligent assistant, while enumerated catalog had not have the kindness
to point out fly in our ointment. It is distinguished
by its absence. The jewel is yours. Perish the jewel,
cried the other Hindu in a sudden outburst of fury.
Why couldn't the Hazur have left it alone or have
taken another jewel? Why should he have singled out the
one above all others necessary to the happiness of Agny?
(07:41):
And why should I have all the priests of the
temple be chosen to restore the sacred stone. Here, with
five thousand miles of space between us, I declare to you, Ramailal,
I do not fear the wrath of Agny. I call
him humbug. I read Shakespeare, I write him an ass.
I am doubtful even of Vishnu and Siva. Travers paid
no attention to Ramilal's reproachful reply. He was lost in amazement.
(08:03):
Here on the very night he had chosen for purloining
the jewel. Two other men were on the same errand stop.
There was a reason for their date. They had mentioned
twenty five, fifty and seventy five years. It was evidently
an anniversary. Every twenty five years an attempt had to
be made to restore the jewel to the temple of Agny.
Three attempts had already been made in Vain, and now,
(08:23):
on the hundredth anniversary of the theft by Major Illingworth,
another attempt was in progress. At any rate, he was
forewarned the house was a mile and a half away
from the station, by the main road on which the
Hindus were going. He knew a cut across the fields
was shortened the distance by half a mile. He would
gain ten minutes. In that ten minutes he had to
obtain the pearl. The train pulled up at Knowlesworth station.
(08:47):
The two Hindus stepped out. Travers followed. He watched them
start along the road. Then he briskly cut across country.
The church clock struck eight as he reached the terrace
in front of the hall. From the beginning he had
matured only only one plan of campaign. He knew the
rules of the house and he would take advantage of them.
From eight to nine, the men's servants were busy in
the dining room. Anyone could open the main outer door
(09:10):
and enter. He might of course be seen, and in
this eventuality Travers relied upon his being known to LA's suspicion.
He was an evening dress and temporarily at any rate
would strike a servant as being one of the guests.
The nominal dinner hour was eight. It had been his
intention to enter at eight twenty in order to allow
for any delay, either on the part of the kitchen
(09:30):
or the guests. Dinners at Knowlesworth were notoriously unpunctual, and
if he entered now he might run into the house party,
or meet stragglers on the stairs. He must wait. But
the Hindus were marching down the road. Each instant brought
them nearer. In ten, no, in eight minutes, they would
be in the garden. Yet he dared not enter. He
waited impatiently in the shadow of the great portico. It
(09:51):
was now eight ten. He would make an attempt. He
slowly pushed back the heavy door and entered the vestibule.
This was cut off from the hall by big glass doors,
and then by heavy curtains. Still more carefully he opened
the inner door, and then quickly closed it again. Through
the opening had come the sound of voices and laughter.
They were gathered in the hall before the fire, waiting
(10:11):
for the summons to dinner. So there he stayed, cursing
the unpunctuality of the house, and unquietly reflecting that a
casual remark as to the present state of the weather
might lead to the glass door being opened and himself
ignominiously disclosed, and Mary would witness his humiliation. Nay, she
might even be the innocent cause of it. She was
within half a dozen yards of him, now separated only
(10:33):
by some glass and a curtain. Yet he could not
speak to her, could not even see her. Ah, that
was her laugh, and that Strathpeffer's raucous voice. Hank Strathpeffer.
It was now eight fifteen. The Hindus were in the garden.
The situation was distracting. At any moment they might enter
the temple room. Ah. There was the sound of movement within.
(10:53):
The guests trooped passed the door. Their voices died away.
All was still. It was nineteen minutes past travers hesitated
no longer. He unbuttoned his top coat and with cap
in hand, as though he were a guest just come
in from a stroll before dinner. He opened the hall door.
No one was in sight. He crossed the hall and
stepped lightly up the stairs. At their head, he passed
(11:16):
a maid. She certainly took him for a guest. He
went straight down the great corridor and then branched the left.
It was the third door ahead. He pulled back the
panel as Mary had shown him, undid the bolt from within,
and entered. The room was in darkness. He struck a light,
half expecting to find the Hindu disclosed. No, he was alone,
and the pearl still there. It was a room without furniture,
(11:39):
in the center was a replica of the great Idol
of Agny at the temple from which the pearl had
been looted. The gods sat there, smug, cross legged, and hideous.
The eyes fascinated the beholder. The left one was of marble,
the right made of a stone worth a prince's ransom,
the one known throughout the world as the black Pearl
of Agny. At the god's knees their holders rest on
(12:00):
the floor were two gigantic candles. Travers lit them. Then
he stepped quickly to the idol and thought the left
hand of the god. He pressed the nail of the
fourth finger. The god's right eyelid lifted, and the complete
stone was disclosed. Travers quickly abstracted it, released the lid,
and put the pearl in his pocket. His object was accomplished.
But what was that? Listen? There was a sound at
(12:22):
the window. The Hindu was there. Beaten by half a minute.
Travers turned to the door. Then, impelled by an overpowering
curiosity to see the end of the drama, he slipped
to another window and got behind the curtain. There was
a faint whistle from below. Hang it, What a fool
he'd been. The Baboo had seen the momentary disarrangement of
the curtain and had observed his figure against the light,
(12:42):
and now he was alarming his friend. But the latter
he did not, perhaps he was too excited to understand
or even to hear him. The sash was raised, the
curtain pulled back, and the Hindu stepped into the room.
He was almost naked, and his bare limbs shone with
a coating of oil. He took one step forward and
looked up eagerly into the idol's face. Then a cry
of despair escaped him. The stone for which he had
(13:04):
traveled five thousand miles was not there. He had lost
his cast. It could never be regained, since he had
failed in his quest. Never again could he see his
native land. Under the crushing blow, he sank a comatose
heap on the floor. The minutes passed and travers shifted
uneasily behind the curtain. There were sounds from the garden,
then approaching footsteps in the corridor. The door was flung
(13:27):
open and Lord Illingworth burst into the room, revolver in hand.
The Duke of Strathpeffer followed with other guests and some footmen.
The Hindu stared dully at them, but did not move.
He was promptly seized the pearl. Where is it, demanded
Lord Illingworth. The Hindu did not reply. Lord Illingworth pointed
to the empty socket and repeated the question, but the
Hindu merely shook his head. Search him, said Lord Ellingworth.
(13:50):
He was searched, but of course nothing was found. Lord
Illingworth stood over him. Where's the pearl, he thundered, but
again the Hindu shook his head. Bring in the other man,
said Lord ill Ellingworth. The baboo entered limp and crestfallen,
in charge of two stablemen. A boy carried a silk
cat and some winter clothing. Ask him what he has
done with the pearl, said the peer. Ramaalal put the question.
(14:14):
I have not got it. It was not here when
I came. The Baboo repeated this to Lord Illingworth. It
is a lie, he replied, it was here an hour ago.
I saw it myself. The Sahib knows that, thou liest,
said Ramaalael to his friend. Tell him a finer tale.
But the Hindu only protested his innocence. What does he say,
demanded Lord Illingworth. He says, replied the facile Baboo that
(14:35):
no sooner had he taken the pearl than there was
the flash of fire and much smoke. When it cleared away,
the stone had vanished, doubtless agony the god had come
for his own. Lord Illingworth blazed with fury. He has
swallowed it. He said, we shall have to cut him open.
Ramaalael translated this terrific threat. The Hindu gave a yell
despair lent him strength. With a serpentine twist, he slid
(14:56):
from the grasp of one of his captors and knocked
up the arm of the other. The window was still open.
He sprang through it into the darkness of the night.
Lord Illingworth ran to the window, fired blindly, and then
rushed from the room. The others followed. Only the Baboo,
his two captors, and the boy with the clothes remained.
Come along, said one of the grooms. Stay for one moment.
(15:17):
I beseech you, said ramaulaal, and let me worship Agne
the god. None of your blarny, returned the man, But
the other, who was of a romantic temperament, said, what's
the odds. Let the heathen do it if he wants.
You see gentlemen, said the baboo eagerly. It is my
very last opportunity. I shall be life long imprisoned for
the inauspicious event of this evening. It is positively my
(15:40):
last appearance in the open. Let me worship Agne as
I do in my own land. No Englishman has yet
witnessed the entire ceremony. It shall not take long. I
will compress my supplications. Five minutes will be ample dispensation.
The grooms looked at each other, Their curiosity settled the matter.
We'll give you four minutes to look sharp, said one.
Thank you, replied Ramaalaal. Gratefully, Agne will bless you for
(16:02):
your beneficence. The men released their hold. One closed the window,
the other shut the door and placed himself before it.
Ramaalal took off his silk hat, muffler and coat. He
advanced to the idol and salaamed low three times. Then
he raised his eyes and sang travers knew the song.
It was a ribald ditty of the bazaars, and it
had as much to do with the worship of Agne
(16:24):
as with the laws of gravitation. He watched the baboo
with increasing interest. He had evidently some ulterior object in view,
But what was it? Ah Ramaalal had gradually approached the idol,
still singing. He had bowed his head till it had
almost touched Agne's knees. Travers hardly saw the movement of
the hands. Only an Oriental could have done it so swiftly.
The two candles were suddenly extinguished, and the room was
(16:46):
in absolute darkness. With loud imprecations, the two grooms rushed
to where the babou had been, to collide with each
other and incidentally bring down the huge candlesticks. Then recovering,
they dashed about the room in search of their prisoner,
only to seize the boy who had the clothes. Finally,
one of them struck a light. They were alone with
the boy. The window was again wide open. The men
(17:08):
leaned out. There was no moon. The lights of the
searchers flashed in the distance. They turned blankly to each other.
There'll be pop to pay for this, said the boy,
who was still suffering from rough usage in the dark.
You'll both jolly well get sacked all your blamed fault
for listenin to his tommy rot, said the one man
savagely to his companion, who'd have thought he was so
(17:29):
cunnin' rejoined the other. What's the good of talkin here?
Come out and look for him. He may have broke
his neck, he added hopefully. Again. The lights flashed in
the garden and then gradually extended beyond. Travers waited until
he was sure there was no one below. Then he
emerged from his recess and followed the Indians through the window,
leaving the park to the searchers. He kept to the
(17:49):
main avenue and soon gained the high road. A ten
mile walk brought him to Dorton Junction, where he just
missed the last train to town. The sun was high
when Danby Travers reached his rooms, and it was late
in the afternoon When he awoke. The morning papers and
his letters were at his bedside. He at once opened
one of the former, curious to see if there was
any reference to the events of the previous night. Good heavens,
(18:12):
what was this? Burglary and fire at Knowlesworth? The Illingworth
pearl stolen, the hall gutted. Knowlesworth Hall, the historic seat
of the Illingworths, was last night the scene of two
extraordinary events. Lord and Lady Illingworth were entertaining One of
their famous weekend parties at dinner, when a daring and
successful attempt was made to steal the celebrated Pearl of Agny,
the largest known black pearl in the world. A native
(18:36):
Indian was found in a summer house in the Italian
Garden by a servant. As several determined attempts to steal
the pearl had already been made, the safety of this
remarkable jewel was at once called into question. Lord Illingworth
and his guests hurried to the temple room where the
great pearl was kept, and there found another native who
was promptly secured. The pearl was missing, and the strictest
search failed to bring it to light. It is believed
(18:58):
that the thief has swallowed it, act which it is
to be hoped that the X rays will be able
to demonstrate. Owing to gross mismanagement. Somewhere, the two natives
escaped from custody, and it was midnight before they were
again apprehended, one of them at Dorton in a state
of collapse from fear and cold, the other at Lingfield,
defiant but suffering from a sprained ankle. They will be
(19:18):
brought up tomorrow at the Dorton Petty sessions. Scarcely had
Lord Illingworth and his guests retired to rest after an
exciting evening than they were again alarmed, this time by
an outbreak of fire in the temple room. Its cause
is unknown, but the flames, assisted by a high wind,
spread with extraordinary rapidity in spite of the prompt measures
taken by the Hall. Fire Brigade. Engines quickly arrived from
(19:41):
Lingfield and Dorton, but the supply of water was totally inadequate,
and it soon became evident that the whole structure was doomed.
At the moment of telegraphing, the fire was raging furiously,
but all sleeping in the house had been rescued without injury.
In one night, Lord Illingworth has lost his great family
jewel and his ancestral seat. The l luck of the
Illingworth's seems to have deserted him. It is a remarkable
(20:03):
coincidence that a fire consumed the Hindu temple of Agne
the night that the pearl was taken from it by
Major Illingworth in eighteen o three. Agne is the Hindu
god of fire. Thank Heaven, Mary safe ejaculated travers. I
hope she hasn't had a great fright, then after a pause,
and Ramilal caught. After all, he deserved a better fate.
(20:24):
What an uncommon good thing I got the pearl. If
I hadn't taken it, the Indians would have been well
on the way to Bombay with it by now. And
if neither of us had taken it, the stone might
have been burnt up, would it? Though there mightn't have
been a fire at all. Rummy notion that Agne should
blaze the whole show in revenge for my desecration. It
shan'n't interfere with my feelings of satisfaction. I am a
(20:45):
public benefactor, an illingworth benefactor. Anyway, I shall explain this
to my lord at an early date. Hello, what's this
a lawyer's letter? I can tell him by the smell?
What's he threatened in this time? But it wasn't a threat.
It was simply an intimation that, under the will of
Colonel Thomas Archer, a distant relative lately deceased, he Danby
(21:06):
Travers succeeded to the whole estate, a bequest made on
account of intrepidity shown in the recent Irawadi campaign. The
income therefrom, the solicitor added, was estimated at about three
thousand pounds per annum, and he would be pleased to
have an expression of mister Danby Travers's wishes with respect
to the same three thousand pounds a year. Travers jumped
(21:28):
out of bed and executed a series of gyrations three
thousand pounds a year. That meant Mary, but did it?
It was a fortune to him? But how would Lord
Illingworth view it? Well? If he didn't like it? He needn't.
Mary and he were now independent of everybody. He made
his way to the burglar's meeting in a blur of happiness.
He was rather late. Other men were there already, and
(21:50):
they won and all congratulated him. Aren't you rather premature?
He asked? You haven't seen the pearl yet? Bott of
the pearls, said Altima, We mean the title. What the
deuce are you're driving at? Haven't you seen the papers?
Crowds of them and lawyer's letters too. My head's buzzing
with them. What is it this time? Your cousin tumbled
down some steps in Vienna last night, and you are
(22:11):
Lord Travers. Now that's all. Danby sat down. This final
stroke of fortune was too much for him. I can't
say I'm sorry, he bordered at length. Bertram wouldn't have
been sorry if it had been me. And I'm glad
about the title because of here. I say, you, fellows,
what's come over the world since last night? The black
pearl of the Illingworth's has changed hands, we hope, said
(22:32):
the secretary, who wanted to start the business of the evening.
The black pearl has and the luck of the Illingworths
went with it. They've had a fire and I've got
a bequest and a title. Perhaps you fellows will be
more superstitious in future. That's what brought my luck anyway,
saying which he produced the Black Pearl of Agony to
his unbounded joy and immense surprise. Lord Illingworth received the
(22:54):
missing stone from London during the course of the next day.
The Indians had been remanded for a week pending further inquiries,
and as they had obviously not stolen the jewel after all,
Lord Illingworth declined to prosecute and they were released from custody.
An unknown friend interested himself in the natives. One of them, Babu,
was sent back to Bombay by an early steamer. The
(23:14):
other who refused to return to India thanks to the
same unknown benefactor was put in the way of earning
his living by teaching Hindustani. He has since gone over
to the Mohammedan faith. With repossession of the pearl, good
fortune came once more to the Illingworth's. In making excavations
consequent on rebuilding the hall, a coal seam was discovered,
which eventually doubled the family wealth. The Black Pearl of
(23:38):
Agny is now protected from burglars by many quaint electrical conceits.
When the next anniversary comes round, any Indian visitors will
have a very lively time of it. Later on in
the year, a marriage took place between Mary, younger daughter
of Lord and Lady Illingworth, and Danby ninth Baron Travers,
a nobleman who had been mentioned in despatches in the
Irawadi campaign, and who was not unknown at her life.
(24:00):
His clubs were Marlborough Brooks's and the Burglars end of
Chapter three
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