The old lady was a little deaf, and the question had to be repeated before she could be made to understand what was wanted. As soon, however, as she realized their desire, she informed them that her master was absent from town, but would be back as usual at twelve o’clock to meet his clients. "What on earth’s to be done?" said the Earl, looking at his companion in dismay. "I am afraid I can’t come back again, as I have a most important appointment at that hour." "Do you think you could entrust the business to me?" asked Carne. "If so, I will make a point of seeing him at twelve o’clock, and could call at Wiltshire House afterwards and tell the Duke what I have done." "That’s very good of you," replied Amberley. "If you are sure it would not put you to too much trouble, that would be quite the best thing to be done." "I will do it with pleasure," Carne replied. "I feel it my duty to help in whatever way I can." "You are very kind," said the other. "Then, as I understand it, you are to call up Klimo at twelve o’clock, and afterwards let my cousins know what you have succeeded in doing. I only hope he will help us to secure the thief. We are having too many of these burglaries just now. I must catch this hansom and be off. Good-bye, and many thanks." "Good-bye," said Carne, and shook him by the hand. The hansom having rolled away, Carne retraced his steps to his own abode. "It is really very strange," he muttered as he walked along, "how often chance condescends to lend her assistance to my little schemes. The mere fact that His Grace left the box unwatched in his study for a quarter of an hour may serve to throw the police off on quite another scent. I am also glad that they decided to open the case in the house, for if it had gone to the bankers’ and had been placed in the strongroom unexamined, I should never have been able to get possession of the jewels at all." Three hours later he drove to Wiltshire House and saw the Duke. The Duchess was far too much upset by the catastrophe to see any one. "This is really most kind of you, Mr. Carne," said His Grace when the other had supplied an elaborate account of his interview with Klimo. "We are extremely indebted to you. I am sorry he cannot come before ten o’clock to-night, and that he makes this stipulation of my seeing him alone, for I must confess I should like to have had some one else present to ask any questions that might escape me. But if that’s his usual hour and custom, well, we must abide by it, that’s all. I hope he will do some good, for this is the greatest calamity that has ever befallen me. As I told you just now, it has made my wife quite ill. She is confined to her bedroom and quite hysterical." "You do not suspect any one, I suppose?" inquired Carne.