Lady Doverton smiled coldly. "In the meantime, the police will have arrested the thief."

()"I think not."

"Absurd! The man who fled was a convicted jewel–robber. It is obvious."

"Perhaps too obvious, madam! Does it not strike you as somewhat singular that an ex–convict, though aware that his record was known already to your brother, should steal a famous stone from his own employer and then conveniently condemn himself by secreting the jewel–box under his mattress, where even Scotland Yard could be relied upon to search?

Lady Doverton put a hand to her bosom. "I had not considered the matter in that light," she said.

"Naturally...."