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Updated: June 8, 2025
"Am I wrong in assuming that madame didn't return from England until quite recently?" "But today, in fact " "And you haven't troubled to investigate your safe since returning?" "It had not occurred to me " "Then why not test my statement before denying it?" With an incredulous shrug Madame Omber terminated a puzzled scrutiny of Lanyard's countenance, and turned to the safe.
"Pardon!" the official hastened to identify his companion: "Monsieur Popinot, agent de la Surete, who lays these informations!" With a profound obeisance to Madame Omber, Popinot strode dramatically over to confront Lanyard and explore his features with his small, keen, shifty eyes of a pig; a scrutiny which the adventurer suffered with superficial calm. "It is he!"
The old lady Madame Omber, you know has all the money there is, approximately, and when she dies all these beautiful things go to the Louvre; for she's without kith or kin." "But how did she manage to accumulate them all?" the girl wondered. "It's the work of generations of passionate collectors," he explained.
"Pardon, madame, but " he began abruptly and checked in constrained appreciation of his impudence. "If that's permission to interrupt your reverie," Madame Omber remarked, "I don't mind telling you, you're the most extraordinary burglar I ever heard of!" Footfalls became audible on the staircase the hasty scuffling of slippered feet. "Is that you, Sidonie?" madame called.
The footfalls of Madame Omber were sounding dangerously near, and without giving the girl more opportunity to protest, Lanyard closed the windows, shot the latch and stole like a cat round the farther side of the desk, pausing within a few feet of the screen and safe.
The girl rested her hand upon the jewel-case. "Those go back to Madame Omber. She has a home here in Paris that I know very well. In fact, the sole reason why I didn't steal them here was that she left for England unexpectedly, just as I was all set to strike. Now I purpose making use of my knowledge to restore the jewels without risk of falling into the hands of the police.
With as little ceremony as though the bullet had lodged in himself, Lanyard tumbled back into the room, tripped, and fell sprawling; while to a tune of clattering boots two sergents de ville lumbered valiantly into the library and pulled up to discover Madame Omber standing calmly, safe and sound, beside her desk, and Lanyard picking himself up from the floor by the open window.
For by now the news of the Omber affair must have thrilled many a Continental telegraph-wire.... "Madame Omber of course!" the American agreed thoughtfully. "Everyone has heard of her wonderful jewels. The real marvel is that the Lone Wolf neglected so shining a mark as long as he did." "But truly so, monsieur!" "And they caught him at it, eh?"
"The late Monsieur Omber was the last of his dynasty; he and his forebears brought together the paintings and the furniture; madame added the Orientals gathered together by her first husband, and her own collection of antique jewellery and precious stones her particular fad...." As he spoke the light of the flash-lamp was blotted out.
Presently he replaced the last, shut down the cover of the box, turned a thoughtful countenance to Lanyard, and made as if to speak, but hesitated. "Well?" the adventurer demanded impatiently. "This, I take it," said the Jew absently, tapping the box, "is the jewellery of Madame Omber." "I took it," Lanyard retorted good-naturedly "not to put too fine a point upon it!"
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