“Well,” said Patsy soberly, “we know now where A. Jones got his money, which is so plentiful that he can build any number of film factories and picture theatres.  Sangoa must have wonderful pearl fisheries—­don’t you remember, girls, that he told us his people were fishermen?—­for each of these specimens is worth a small fortune.  Mine, especially, is the largest and finest pearl I have ever seen.”

“I beg your pardon!” sternly exclaimed Uncle John, as he whirled swiftly around.  “Can I do anything for you, sir?”

For Mr. Le Drieux had stealthily advanced to the alcove and was glaring at the display of pearls and making notes in a small book.

He bowed, without apparent resentment, as he answered Mr. Merrick:  “Thank you, sir; you have already served me admirably.  Pardon my intrusion.”

Then he closed the book, slipped it into his pocket and with another low bow walked away.

“What rank impertinence!” cried Arthur, staring after him.  “Some newspaper reporter, I suppose.  Do you know him, Uncle John?”

“He forced an introduction, a few evenings ago.  It is a pearl merchant from New York, named Le Drieux, so I suppose his curiosity is but natural.”

“Shall we keep our pearls, Uncle?” asked Beth.

“I shall keep mine,” replied the little man, who never wore any ornament of jewelry.  “It was generous and thoughtful in young Jones to present these things and we ought not offend him by refusing his ‘mementos,’ as he calls them.”

Perhaps all the nieces were relieved to hear this verdict, for already they loved their beautiful gifts.  That evening the Stanton girls and their Aunt Jane received their parcels, being fully as much surprised as the others had been, and their boxes also contained pearls.  Flo and Maud had lavallieres, the latter receiving one as large and beautiful as that of Patsy Doyle, while Mrs. Montrose found a brooch set with numerous smaller pearls.

Patsy urged them all to wear the ornaments to dinner that evening, which they did, and although Jones was not there to observe the effect of the splendid pearls, Mr. Le Drieux was at his place in the dining room and made more notes in his little book.

That was exactly what Patsy wanted.  “I can’t stand the suspense of this thing,” she whispered to Uncle John, “and if that man wants any information about these pearls I propose we give it to him.  In that way he will soon discover he is wrong in suspecting the identity of Jack Andrews and A. Jones.”

Mr. Merrick nodded absently and went to his corner for a smoke.  Arthur soon after joined him, while Aunt Jane took her bevy of girls to another part of the loge.

“Le Drieux will be here presently,” said Uncle John to young Weldon.

“Oh, the fellow with the book.  Why, sir?”

“He’s a detective, I think.  Anyhow, he is shadowing Jones, whom he suspects is a thief.”

He then told Arthur frankly of his former conversation with Le Drieux, and of the puzzling photograph.