“It must have been a most interesting experience,” he said, “to have seen Crochard at work.  I have never had that privilege.  But I regret that he should have made good his escape.”

“More especially since he took the Michaelovitch diamonds with him,” I added.

“Before we go into that,” said Godfrey, with a little smile, “there are one or two questions I should like to ask you, M. Pigot, in order to clear up some minor details which are as yet a little obscure.  Is it true that the theft of the Michaelovitch diamonds was planned by Crochard?”

“Undoubtedly.  No other thief in France would be capable of it.”

“Is it also true that no direct evidence could be found against him?”

“That also is true, monsieur.  He had arranged the affair so cleverly that we were wholly unable to convict him, unless we should find him with the stolen brilliants in his possession.”

“And you were not able to do that?”

“No; we could discover no trace of the brilliants, though we searched for them everywhere.”

“But you did not know of the Boule cabinet and of the secret drawer?”

“No; of that we knew nothing.  I must examine that famous cabinet.”

“It is worth examining.  And it has an interesting history.  But you did know, of course, that Crochard would seek a market for the diamonds here in America?”

“We knew that he would try to do so, and we did everything in our power to prevent it.  We especially relied upon your customs department to search most thoroughly the belongings of every person with whom they were not personally acquainted.”

“The customs people did their part,” said Godfrey with a chuckle.  “They have quite upset the country!  But the diamonds got in, in spite of them.  For, of course, a cabinet imported by a man so well known and so above suspicion as Mr. Vantine was passed without question!”

“Yes,” agreed M. Pigot, a little bitterly.  “It was a most clever plan; and now, no doubt, Crochard can sell the brilliants at his leisure.”

“Not if you’ve got a good description of them,” protested Grady.  “I’ll make it a point to warn every dealer in the country; I’ll keep my whole force on the job; I’ll get Chief Wilkie to lend me some of his men....”

“Oh, there is no use taking all that trouble,” broke in Godfrey, negligently.  “Crochard won’t try to sell them.”

“Won’t try to sell them?” echoed Grady.  “What’s the reason he won’t?”

“Because he hasn’t got them,” answered Godfrey, smiling with an evidently deep enjoyment of Grady’s dazed countenance.

“Oh, come off!” said that worthy disgustedly.  “If he hasn’t got ’em I’d like to know who has!”

“I have,” said Godfrey, and cleared my desk with a sweep of his arm.  “Spread out your handkerchief, Lester,” and as I dazedly obeyed, he picked up the little leather bag, opened it, and poured out its contents in a sparkling flood.  “There,” he added, turning to Grady, “are the Michaelovitch diamonds.”