E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Keith M. Eckrich, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreaders Team
by
1914
It was eight o'clock at night and raining, scarcely a time when abusiness so limited in its clientele as that of a coin dealer couldhope to attract any customer, but a light was still showing in thesmall shop that bore over its window the name of Baxter, and in theeven smaller office at the back the proprietor himself sat reading thelatest Pall Mall. His enterprise seemed to be justified, forpresently the door bell gave its announcement, and throwing down hispaper Mr. Baxter went forward.
As a matter of fact the dealer had been expecting someone and hismanner as he passed into the shop was unmistakably suggestive of acaller of importance. But at the first glance towards his visitor theexcess of deference melted out of his bearing, leaving the urbane,self-possessed shopman in the presence of the casual customer.
"Mr. Baxter, I think?" said the latter. He had laid aside his drippingumbrella and was unbuttoning overcoat and coat to reach an innerpocket. "You hardly remember me, I suppose? Mr. Carlyle—two years agoI took up a case for you—"
"To be sure. Mr. Carlyle, the private detective—"
"Inquiry agent," corrected Mr. Carlyle precisely.
"Well," smiled Mr. Baxter, "for that matter I am a coin dealer and notan antiquarian or a numismatist. Is there anything in that way that Ican do for you?"
"Yes," replied his visitor; "it is my turn to consult you." He hadtaken a small wash-leather bag from the inner pocket and now turnedsomething carefully out upon the counter. "What can you tell me aboutthat?"
The dealer gave the coin a moment's scrutiny.
"There is no question about this," he replied. "It is a Siciliantetradrachm of Dionysius."
"Yes, I know that—I have it on the label out of the cabinet. I cantell you further that it's supposed to be one that Lord Seastoke gavetwo hundred and fifty pounds for at the Brice sale in '94."
"It seems to me that you can tell me more about it than I can tellyou," remarked Mr. Baxter. "What is it that you really want to know?"
"I want to know," replied Mr. Carlyle, "whether it is genuine or not."
"Has any doubt been cast upon it?"
"Certain circumstances raised a suspicion—that is all."
The dealer took another look at the tetradrachm through his magnifyingglass, holding it by the edge with the careful touch of an expert.Then he shook his head slowly in a confession of ignorance.
"Of course I could make a guess—"
"No, don't," interrupted Mr. Carlyle hastily. "An arrest hangs on itand nothing short of certainty is any good to me."
"Is that so, Mr. Carlyle?" said Mr. Baxter, with increased interest."Well, to be quite candid, the thing is out of my line. Now if it wasa rare Saxon penny or a doubtful noble I'd stake my reputation on myopinion, but I do very little in the classical series."