“Something definite ought to be done for the boy.  He needs intelligent assistance.  I’m afraid his situation is serious.”

“That is what Arthur thinks,” said Beth.  “He says that unless he can furnish proof that he is not Jack Andrews, and that he came by those pearls honestly, he will be shipped to Austria for trial.  No one knows what those foreigners will do to him, but he would probably fare badly in their hands.”

“Such being the logical conclusion,” said Maud, “we must make our fight now, at the examination.”

“Uncle John has engaged a lawyer,” announced Patsy, “and if he proves bright and intelligent he ought to be able to free Ajo.”

“I’d like to see that lawyer, and take his measure,” answered Maud, musingly, and her wish was granted soon after they had finished dinner.  Colby entered the hotel, jaunty as ever, and Arthur met him and introduced him to the girls.

“You must forgive me for coming on a disagreeable mission,” began the young attorney, “but I have promised the judge that I would produce all the pearls Mr. Jones gave you, not later than to-morrow morning.  He wants them as evidence, and to compare privately with Le Drieux’s list, although he will likely have the expert at his elbow.  So I can’t promise that you will ever get your jewels back again.”

“Oh.  You think, then, that Mr. Jones is guilty?” said Maud coldly.

“No, indeed; I believe he is innocent.  A lawyer should never suspect his client, you know.  But to win I must prove my case, and opposed to me is that terrible Le Drieux, who insists he is never mistaken.”

“Arthur—­Mr. Weldon—­says you understand pearls as well as Mr. Le Drieux does,” suggested Patsy.

“I thank him; but he is in error.  I chattered to the judge about pearls, it is true, because I found he couldn’t tell a pearl from a glass bead; and I believe I even perplexed Le Drieux by hinting at a broad knowledge on the subject which I do not possess.  It was all a bit of bluff on my part.  But by to-morrow morning this knowledge will be a fact, for I’ve bought a lot of books on pearls and intend to sit up all night reading them.”

“That was a clever idea,” said Uncle John, nodding approval.

“So my mission here this evening is to get the pearls, that I may study them as I read,” continued Colby.  “Heretofore I’ve only seen the things through a plate glass window, or a show case.  The success of our defense depends upon our refuting Le Drieux’s assertion that the pearls found in Jones’ possession are a part of the Countess Ahmberg’s collection.  He has a full description of the stolen gems and I must be prepared to show that none of the Jones’ pearls is on the list.”

“Can you do that?” asked Maud.

She was gazing seriously into the young man’s eyes and this caused him to blush and stammer a little as he replied: 

“I—­I hope to, Miss Stanton.”