In a case like this--to a bachelor without dependents--money was no object.

All his life he had wanted a fine emerald to play with, and here was an opportunity to acquire two! If this plan failed to draw Karlov into the open, then every jeweller and pawnbroker in town would be notified and warned.

What with the secret-service operatives and the agents of the Department of Justice on the watch for Karlov--who would recognize his limitations of mobility--it was reasonable to assume that the Bolshevik would be only too glad to dicker secretly for the disposal of the stones.

Now to work.
Cutty looked at his watch.
Nearly midnight.

Rather late, but he knew all the tricks of this particular kind of game.