Le Drieux smiled genially.

“It is unnecessary to make the test, sir,” he replied.  “The pearl Andrews gave to Miss Doyle is as unmistakable as your own.  But I am curious to hear your opinion, Mr. Weldon.”

“I have been suspicious of young Jones from the first,” said Arthur; “but I have been studying this boy’s character, and he is positively incapable of the crimes you accuse him of, such as robbery and murder.  In other words, whatever Jones may be, he is not Andrews; or, if by chance he proves to be Andrews, then Andrews is innocent of crime.  All your theories are based upon a desire to secure rewards, backed by a chain of circumstantial evidence.”

“A chain,” said Le Drieux, grimly, “that will hold Jack Andrews fast in its coils, clever though he is.”

“Circumstantial evidence,” retorted Mr. Merrick, “doesn’t amount to shucks!  It is constantly getting good people into trouble and allowing rascals to escape.  Nothing but direct evidence will ever convince me that a man is guilty.”

Le Drieux shrugged his shoulders.

“The pearls are evidence enough,” said he.

“To be sure.  Evidence enough to free the poor boy of suspicion.  You may be a better messenger than you are a detective, Mr. Le Drieux, but that doesn’t convince me you are a judge of pearls.”

The agent rose with a frown of annoyance.

“I am going to have Jack Andrews arrested in the morning,” he remarked.  “If you warn him, in the meantime, I shall charge you with complicity.”

Uncle John nearly choked with anger, but he maintained his dignity.

“I have no knowledge of your Jack Andrews,” he replied, and turned his back.

CHAPTER XVI

TROUBLE

Uncle John and Arthur decided not to mention to the girls this astounding charge of Isidore Le Drieux, fearing the news would make them nervous and disturb their rest, so when the men joined the merry party in the alcove they did not refer to their late interview.

Afterward, however, when all but Arthur Weldon had gone to bed and he was sitting in Uncle John’s room, the two discussed the matter together with much seriousness.

“We ought to do something, sir,” said Arthur.  “This Jones is a mere boy, and in poor health at that.  He has no friends, so far as we know, other than ourselves.  Therefore it is our duty to see him through this trouble.”

Mr. Merrick nodded assent.

“We cannot prevent the arrest,” he replied, “for Le Drieux will not listen to reason.  If we aided Jones to run away he would soon be caught.  Absurd as the charge is, the youngster must face it and prove his innocence.”

Arthur paced the floor in a way that indicated he was disturbed by this verdict.

“He ought to have no difficulty in proving he is not Jack Andrews,” he remarked, reflectively; “and yet—­those pearls are difficult to explain.  Their similarity to the ones stolen in Europe fooled the expert, Le Drieux, and they are likely to fool a judge or jury.  I hope Jones has some means of proving that he brought the pearls from Sangoa.  That would settle the matter at once.”