The Knight’s CrossSignal Problem
The Tragedy at BrookbendCottage
The Last Exploit of Harrythe Actor
It was eight o’clock at night and raining, scarcely a timewhen a business so limited in its clientele as that of a coindealer could hope to attract any customer, but a light was stillshowing in the small shop that bore over its window the name ofBaxter, and in the even smaller office at the back the proprietorhimself sat reading the latest Pall Mall. His enterpriseseemed to be justified, for presently the door bell gave itsannouncement, and throwing down his paper Mr Baxter wentforward.
As a matter of fact the dealer had been expecting someone andhis manner as he passed into the shop was unmistakably suggestiveof a caller of importance. But at the first glance towards hisvisitor the excess of deference melted out of his bearing, leavingthe urbane, self-possessed shopman in the presence of the casualcustomer.
“Mr Baxter, I think?” said the latter. He had laidaside his dripping umbrella and was unbuttoning overcoat and coatto reach an inner pocket. “You hardly remember me, I suppose?Mr Carlyle—two years ago I took up a case foryou——”
“To be sure. Mr Carlyle, the privatedetective——”
“Inquiry agent,” corrected Mr Carlyle precisely.
“Well,” smiled Mr Baxter, “for that matter Iam a coin dealer and not an antiquarian or a numismatist. Is thereanything in that way that I can do for you?”
“Yes,” replied his visitor; “it is my turn toconsult you.” He had taken a small wash-leather bag from theinner pocket and now turned something carefully out upon thecounter. “What can you tell me about that?”
The dealer gave the coin a moment’s scrutiny.
“There is no question about this,” he replied.“It is a Sicilian tetradrachm of Dionysius.”
“Yes, I know that—I have it on the label out of thecabinet. I can tell you further that it’s supposed to be onethat Lord Seastoke gave two hundred and fifty pounds for at theBrice sale in ‘‘94.”
“It seems to me that you can tell me more about it than Ican tell you,” remarked Mr Baxter. “What is it that youreally want to know?”
“I want to know,” replied Mr Carlyle, “whetherit is genuine or not.”
“Has any doubt been cast upon it?”
“Certain circumstances raised a suspicion—that isall.”
The dealer took another look at the tetradrachm through hismagnifying glass, holding it by the edge with the careful touc