The Chicago millionaire, once put in possession of Allerdyke’s name, looked at him with manifest curiosity, and motioned him and Fullaway to take seats with himself and his two companions.

“We were just talking of your case, Mr. Allerdyke,” he said quietly.  “The Princess, of course, has told me about you.  Fullaway, I don’t know if you know this gentleman—­his name’s well enough known, anyway.  This gentleman is Mr. Chilverton, the famous New York detective.  Chilverton—­Mr. Fullaway, Mr. Allerdyke.”

Fullaway and Allerdyke both looked at the man in the Homburg hat with great interest as they shook hands with him.  Fullaway at any rate knew of his world-wide reputation; Allerdyke faintly remembered that he had heard of him in connection with some great criminal affair.

“Been telling Mr. Chilverton about our business, Mr. Delkin?” asked Fullaway pleasantly.  “Asking his expert advice?”

“I’ve told him no more than what he could read for himself in the newspapers,” answered Delkin.  “He’s got stuff of his own to attend to, here in London.  About our affair now, as you call it, Fullaway.  It’s not my affair, or I guess I’d have been more into it by this time.  The Princess here thinks things are going real slow, and so do I. What do you think, Mr. Allerdyke!”

“It’s a case in which things go slow of sheer necessity,” replied Allerdyke.  “It’s a case of widespread ramifications—­to use a long word.  But—­we keep having developments, Mr. Delkin.  There’s been one this morning.  We came to see you about it—­and perhaps you’ll let Fullaway tell!—­he’ll put things into fewer words than I should.”

“Sure!” answered the millionaire.  “Go ahead, Fullaway—­we’re all interested.”

Fullaway briefly told the story of the discovery at the hotel in the Docks that morning, and explained the deductions which had been made from it.  He detailed the connection of Ebers, alias Federman or Herman, with himself, and reported the conversation which had just taken place at his own rooms.  And then he turned to Allerdyke, with an expressive gesture.

“I’ll let Allerdyke say why we came here,” he said.  “It was his idea and Van Koon’s—­not mine.  Your turn, Allerdyke.”

“I shan’t be slow to take it,” responded Allerdyke, stirring himself.  “I’m one business man—­Mr. Delkin’s another.  I only want to ask you, Mr. Delkin, if you ever talked of this jewel transaction to anybody beyond your own secretary?  It’s a plain question, and you’ll understand why I ask it.”

“Of course,” replied Delkin genially.  “Quite right to ask.  I can answer it in one word.  No!  As to telling my secretary, Merrifield, who’s been with me twelve years, and is a thoroughly trustworthy man, I merely told him sufficient for him to write and send that formal letter—­he knew, and knows (at least, not from me) no details.  No, sir!—­never a word from me got about—­not even to my own daughter.  Of course, the Princess here and myself have discussed matters—­since she came.  And now that you’re here, Fullaway, I’ll tell you what I think—­straight out.  I think this affair has all been planned from your own office!”