A word, and Karlov would come to the end of his rope suddenly.

But if he issued that word the whole fabric he had erected so painstakingly would blow away like cardboard.

If those emeralds turned up in the possession of any man but himself the ensuing complications would be appalling.

For he himself would be forced to tell what he knew about the stones: Hawksley would be thrust conspicuously into the limelight, and sooner or later some wild anarch would kill him.
Known, Hawksley would not have one chance in a thousand.

Kitty would be dragged into the light and harassed and his own attitude toward her misunderstood.