“No need of any preamble,” said the millionaire. “We’ve come to see those pearls.”
Eden started. “My dear sir—I’m afraid I gave you the wrong impression. The pearls are not in San Francisco at present.”
Madden stared at him. “But when you told me to come here and meet the owner—”
“I’m so sorry—I meant just that.”
Sally Jordan helped him out. “You see, Mr. Madden, I had no intention of selling the necklace when I came here from Honolulu. I was moved to that decision by events after I reached here. But I have sent for it—”
The girl spoke. She had thrown back the fur about her neck, and she was beautiful in her way, but cold and hard like her father—and just now, evidently, unutterably bored. “I thought of course the pearls were here,” she said, “or I should not have come.”
“Well, it is
