I took his advice, accepting at the same time the somewhat battered silver flask which Bobby lugged out hastily from an inside pocket. It was full of neat brandy, and, having gulped down a generous mouthful, I proceeded to give them a compressed but faithful description of the evening's entertainment. The whole recital only occupied a short while, for in spite of its amazing nature neither of them attempted to interrupt me. "So you see what comes of not keeping your appointments, Robert," I finished. "The diamonds have gone; here am I with a cracked collar-bone, and----" A sudden sound attracted our attention, and we all three turned round abruptly. Christine was standing at the head of the staircase, with her hand on the banister. Dressed in an old sailing jersey of mine, with a pair of white flannel trousers rolled up over her bare feet and ankles, she presented such a delightfully unexpected picture that for perhaps a couple of seconds none of us moved or spoke. "Let me introduce you," I said. "Christine, this is Bobby, and this is Inspector Campbell. I have just been telling them how you saved my life." She came down the staircase, and with a simultaneous movement both my companions started forward to meet her. Bobby, however, arrived first. "Put it there," he exclaimed, burying her slender hand in his huge brown fist. "I told Jack he'd got a prize-packet, and, by God! it's the truth." Campbell's greeting was a shade more formal "You're a very gallant young lady, miss, and I'm proud and honoured to make your acquaintance." With shining eyes Christine looked from one to the other of them. "I knew that you wouldn't fail us," she said. Then, coming towards me, she added eagerly: "But what are we waiting for? Why don't we start at once?" I got up from my chair. "Christine's right," I cried. "How about your launch, Bobby? Has anything gone wrong with her?" "Gone wrong with her!" he echoed indignantly. "Of course it hasn't." "Then why were you late?" I demanded. "I was kept for an hour at that cursed office. There was some Admiralty business that had to be attended to." Christine turned to him, her face alight with excitement. "We have still time." she said. "If we can catch them up before they get to Holland----" She was interrupted by Campbell. "She's talking sense, the young lady," he exclaimed. "They can't be very far ahead of us, and there's twenty thousand pounds reward if we get the stones." "It's my uncle's life I'm thinking of," declared Christine passionately. Campbell made an obvious effort to appear sympathetic. "Never fear, miss," he rejoined. "We'll bring him back to you and the diamonds as well." "I am coming too," said Christine quietly. The Inspector stared at her in dismay. "But, my dear young lady----" he began. "You may as well save your breath, Campbell," I remarked. "If three hundred yards of water can't stop Miss de Roda----"