Part 55

The man smiled imperturbably, and went on:

"The letter in question having come into your possession recently, you, with two companions, spent three weeks encamped on Greenberry Point, ostensibly for your health, or the night air, or anything else that would deceive the Naval authorities. During which time, you dug up the entire Point, dragged the waters immediately adjoining--and then departed, very strangely choosing for it a time of storm and change of weather. My language is intelligible, thus far?"

Croyden nodded--rather amused. Evidently, the thieves had managed to communicate with a confederate, and this was a hold-up. They assumed he had been successful.

"Therefore, it is entirely reasonable to suppose that your search was not ineffectual. In plain words, you have recovered the treasure."

The man paused, waiting for an answer.

Croyden only smiled, and waited, too.

"Very good!--we will proceed," said the stranger. "The jewels were found on Government land. It makes no difference whether recovered on the Point or on the Bay--the law covering treasure trove, I am informed, doesn't apply. The Government is entitled to the entire find, it being the owner in fee of the land."

"You talk like a lawyer!" said Croyden.

The stranger bowed. "I have devoted my spare moments to the study of the law----"

"And how to avoid it," Croyden interjected.

The other bowed again.

"And also how to prevent others from avoiding it," he replied, suggestively. "Let us take up that phase, if it please you."

"And if it doesn't please?" asked Croyden, suppressing an inclination to laugh.

"Then let us take it up, any way--unless you wish to forfeit your find to the Government."

"Proceed!" said Croyden. "We are arriving, now, at the pith of the matter. What do you offer?"

"We want an equal divide. We will take Parmenter's estimate and multiply it by two, though jewels have appreciated more than that in valuation. Fifty thousand pounds is two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which will total, according to the calculation, half a million dollars,--one half of which amount you pay us as our share."

"Your share! Why don't you call it properly--blackmail?" Croyden demanded.

"As you wish!" the other replied, airily. "If you prefer blackmail to share, it will not hinder the contract--seeing that it is quite as illegal on your part as on ours. Share merely sounds a little better but either obtains the same end. So, suit yourself. Call it what you will--but pay."

"Pay--or what?"

"Pay--or lose everything!" was the answer. "If you are not familiar with the law covering the subject under discussion, let me enlighten you."

"Thunder! how you do roll it out!" laughed Croyden. "Get on! man, get on!"

"I was endeavoring to state the matter succinctly," the stranger replied, refusing to be hurried or flustered. "The Common Law and the practice of the Treasury Department provide, that all treasure found on Government land or within navigable waters, is Government property. If declared by the finder, immediately, he shall be paid such reward as the Secretary may determine. If he does not declare, and is informed on, the informer gets the reward. You will observe that, under the law, you have forfeited the jewels--I fancy I do not need to draw further deductions."

"No!--it's quite unnecessary," Croyden remarked. "Your fellow thieves went into that phase (good word, I like it!) rather fully, down on Greenberry Point. Unluckily, they fell into the hands of the police, almost immediately, and we have not been able to continue the conversation."

"I have the honor to continue the conversation--and, in the interim, you have found the treasure. So, Parmenter's letter won't be essential--the facts, circumstances, your own and Mr. Macloud's testimony, will be sufficient to prove the Government's case. Then, as you are aware, it's pay or go to prison for larceny."

"There is one very material hypothesis, which you assume as a fact, but which is, unfortunately, not a fact," said Croyden. "We did not find the treasure."

The man laughed, good-humoredly.

"Naturally!" he replied. "We don't ask you to acknowledge the finding--just pay over the quarter of a million and we will forget everything."

"My good man, I'm speaking the truth!" Croyden answered. "Maybe it's difficult for you to recognize, but it's the truth, none the less. I only wish I had the treasure--I think I'd be quite willing to share it, even with a blackmailer!"