They had reason, too, to believe that I was not acting for myself alone.

What was more natural, therefore, than that they should have called in Mr.Birnes, and the men of his agency, to find out about me, and, if possible, to find out whom I represented, so they might locate the supply?
I wouldn't tell them, because it was not desirable that they should deal directly with Mr.
Kellner, who was old and childish, and lacking, perhaps, in appreciation of the real value of diamonds.
"The result of all this was that the diamond dealers placed me under strict surveillance.

My house was watched; my office was watched.
My mail going and coming, was subjected to scrutiny; my telephone calls were traced; telegrams opened and read.

I had anticipated all this, of course, and was in communication with Mr.Kellner here only by carrier-pigeons." He glanced meaningly at Mr.Birnes, who was utterly absorbed in the recital.

"Those carrier-pigeons were not exchanged by express, because the records would have furnished a clew to Mr.Birnes' men; I personally took them back and forth in a suitcase before I approached Mr.Latham with the original proposition." He was giving categorical answers to a few of the multitude of questions to which Mr.Birnes had been seeking answers.