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London, and So On: Low Compan ! 129
of
curiosity in all the years I knew of it before it was summarily closed
down. It was a cramped basement parlour which let no sunlight in, and
the traders who went there had to come up from the depths to inspect
goods in the narrow entrance.
On
the second occasion on which curiosity drew me there, I stood
hesitating for a brief moment with one foot on the pavement and the
other on the first worn flag of the steps, uncertain whether to venture
down into those unsavoury depths. Two foreign-looking bearded men
scrutinised me closely and shouted out a warning to those below, but at
that moment two gentlewomen came along the street, stopped close by me,
and one of them said: "Is this the place where the diamond merchants
meet?"
I
said rather dubiously that it was. "Are you a diamond merchant, then? "
queried the other lady. I hesitated in my answer, but before I could
speak her companion saved me from the temptation to lie and said
smilingly: "Of course he is, dear, or he wouldn't be here."
Heaven
knew that I was in sore need of turning an honest shilling. I did not
deny the statement. I was not long left in doubt of the kind of service
the ladies expected. They wished to dispose of some odds and ends of
old-fashioned jewellery which had been left to them by a relative.
Being somewhat strong-minded and not desiring to hawk the things about,
they had come straight to Hatton Garden. I did not let them down. The
next day I called on them in company of a well-to-do kerb merchant of
good reputation who paid them a hundred and fifty pounds. I got a very
welcome five pounds out of the
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