Both the gentlemen were desirous of doing business, for business had been very slack lately: neither wished to refuse a possible customer, or to offend Mr.Pettitt, the manager of the North-Western, who had recommended them to the Prince.

But that foreign title and the vulgar little French secretary stuck in the throats of the two pompous and worthy Liverpool jewellers, and together they agreed, firstly, that no credit should be given; and, secondly, that if a cheque or even a banker's draft were tendered, the jewels were not to be given up until that cheque or draft was cashed.
"Then came the question as to who should take the jewels to the hotel.
It was altogether against business etiquette for the senior partners to do such errands themselves; moreover, it was thought that it would be easier for a clerk to explain, without giving undue offence, that he could not take the responsibility of a cheque or draft, without having cashed it previously to giving up the jewels.
"Then there was the question of the probable necessity of conferring in a foreign tongue.

The head assistant, Charles Needham, who had been in the employ of Winslow and Vassall for over twelve years, was, in true British fashion, ignorant of any language save his own; it was therefore decided to dispatch Mr.Schwarz, a young German clerk lately arrived, on the delicate errand.
"Mr.Schwarz was Mr.Winslow's nephew and godson, a sister of that gentleman having married the head of the great German firm of Schwarz & Co., silversmiths, of Hamburg and Berlin.
"The young man had soon become a great favourite with his uncle, whose heir he would presumably be, as Mr.Winslow had no children.
"At first Mr.Vassall made some demur about sending Mr.Schwarz with so many valuable jewels alone in a city which he had not yet had the time to study thoroughly; but finally he allowed himself to be persuaded by his senior partner, and a fine selection of necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and rings, amounting in value to over L16,000, having been made, it was decided that Mr.Schwarz should go to the North-Western in a cab the next day at about three o'clock in the afternoon.

This he accordingly did, the following day being a Thursday.
"Business went on in the shop as usual under the direction of the head assistant, until about seven o'clock, when Mr.Winslow returned from his club, where he usually spent an hour over the papers every afternoon, and at once asked for his nephew.

To his astonishment Mr.Needham informed him that Mr.Schwarz had not yet returned.