“Have you evidence to support this plea?” inquired Judge Wilton.

“We have, your honor.  But the prosecution must first prove its charge.”

The prosecution promptly responded to the challenge.  The photograph of Andrews, taken abroad, was shown.  Two recognized experts in physiognomy declared, after comparison, that it was undoubtedly the photograph of the prisoner.  Then Le Drieux took the stand.  He read a newspaper account of the robbery.  He produced a list of the pearls, attested by the countess herself.  Each individual pearl was described and its color, weight and value given.  Then Le Drieux exhibited the pearls taken from Jones and, except for the small ones in the brooch which had been presented to Mrs. Montrose, he checked off every pearl against his list, weighing them before the judge and describing their color.

During this, Judge Wilton continually nodded approval.  Such evidence was concise and indisputable, it seemed.  Moreover, the defense readily admitted that the pearls exhibited had all been in Jones’ possession.

Then Colby got up to refute the evidence.

“Mr. Jones,” he began, “has—­”

“Give the prisoner’s full name,” said the judge.

“His full name is A. Jones.”

“What does the ‘A’ stand for?”

“It is only an initial, your honor.  Mr. Jones has no other name.”

“Puh!  He ought to have taken some other name.  Names are cheap,” sneered the judge.

Colby ignored the point.

“Mr. Jones is a resident of Sangoa, where he was born.  Until he landed at San Francisco, fifteen months ago, he had never set foot on any land but that of his native island.”

“Where is Sangoa?” demanded the judge.

“It is an island of the South Seas.”

“What nationality?”

“It is independent.  It was purchased from Uruguay by Mr. Jones’ father many years ago, and now belongs exclusively to his son.”

“Your information is indefinite,” snapped the judge.

“I realize that, your honor; but my client deems it wise to keep the location of his island a secret, because he has valuable pearl fisheries on its shores.  The pearls exhibited by the prosecution were all found at Sangoa.”

“How do you account, then, for their checking so accurately against the list of stolen pearls?”

“I can make almost any pearls check with that list, which represents a huge collection of almost every size, weight and color,” replied Colby.  “To prove this, I will introduce in evidence Captain Carg of Sangoa, who recently arrived at Santa Monica Bay with the last proceeds of the pearl fisheries of the island.”

Captain Carg was on hand, with his two sailors guarding the chest.  He now produced the trays of pearls and spread them on the desk before the amazed eyes of the judge.  Le Drieux was astounded, and showed it plainly on his face.

Colby now borrowed the list, and picking up a pearl from the tray weighed it on Le Drieux’s scales and then found a parallel to it on the list.  This he did with several of the pearls, chosen at random, until one of Le Drieux’s attorneys took the expert aside and whispered to him.  Then Le Drieux’s expression changed from chagrin to joy and coming forward he exclaimed: