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Here the captain turned a quick look upon the speaker and for the first time his eyes lost their dull expression. But he made no remark and Uncle John continued: "This man Le Drieux found several choice pearls in the possession of Mr. Jones, which he claims are a part of the stolen collection. Hence he obtained your master's arrest.
"But he isn't capable of the theft. Le Drieux states that Jack Andrews is a society swell, an all-around confidence man, and a gambler. Jones is a diffident and retiring, but a very manly young fellow, who loves quiet and seems to have no bad habits. You can't connect the two in any possible way." Again Arthur took time to consider. "I have no desire to suspect Jones unjustly," he said.
Jones and have no desire to usurp his island kingdom or seize his pearls. Our only anxiety is to free him from an unjust suspicion. A foolish man named Le Drieux accuses Jones of stealing a choice collection of pearls from a lady in Austria and fleeing with them to America. He has a photograph of the real criminal, taken abroad, which curiously resembles your young master."
He then told Arthur frankly of his former conversation with Le Drieux, and of the puzzling photograph. "It really resembles the boy," he admitted, with a frown of perplexity, "yet at the same time I realized the whole thing was absurd. Neither Patsy nor I can believe that Jones is the man who robbed an Austrian countess. It's preposterous!
Andrews, after an examination, will be taken to New York and from there to Vienna, where his crime was committed." "But he has committed no crime!" Le Drieux shrugged his shoulders. "He is accused, and he must prove his innocence," said he. "But that is nonsense!" interposed Arthur warmly. "There is no justice in such an assertion.
Uncle John had already wired to Major Doyle, Patsy's father, to get the steamship lists and find which boat Andrews had come on and the date of its arrival, but no answer had as yet been received. Making a pretense of suddenly observing the man, he remarked casually: "Ah, good evening." "Good evening, Mr. Weldon," replied Le Drieux, a note of ill-suppressed triumph in his voice.
With a sudden thought Patsy raised her head to cast a searching glance around the lobby, for although their party was seated in an alcove they were visible to all in the big room of which it formed a part. Yes, Mr. Isidore Le Drieux was standing near them, as she had feared, and the slight sneer upon his lips proved that he had observed the transfer of the pearls.
He cast a self-satisfied and rather supercilious glance in the direction of the Merrick party, which on this occasion included the Stantons and their aunt, but he made no attempt to approach the corner where they were seated. Maud, however, as soon as she saw Le Drieux, asked Arthur Weldon to interview the man and endeavor to obtain from him the exact date when Jack Andrews landed in New York.
"That is on account of the mustache," remarked Le Drieux, who was closely watching their faces. "This portrait was taken more than a year ago." "Oh; but he was in Sangoa then," protested Patsy, who was really bewildered by the striking resemblance. The stranger smiled indulgently.
It was stolen from her, together with 188 other rare pearls, valued at a half million dollars, a little over a year ago." "This pearl, sir," said Uncle John stiffly, "is not the one you refer to. It was found on the shores of the island of Sangoa, and you have never seen it before." Le Drieux smiled sweetly as he brushed the ashes from his cigar.
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