“Oh, I made the most innocent remark, and it was the truth too, which shows that honesty is not always the best policy. I merely told her that you had offered me ten times the amount of money she is paying me. You needn’t jump as if somebody had shot off a gun at your ear. You know you did make such an offer.” “You confounded little mischief-maker,” cried the Prince in anger. “Did you tell her what it was for?” “No. She did not ask.” “I will thank you to apply the cleverness you seem to possess to the undoing of the harm you have so light-heartedly caused.” “How can I? I am ordered to leave to-night, when I did _so_ wish to stay and see the diamond _dénouement_.” “You are not going to-night. I shall speak to the Princess about it if that should be necessary. Your mention of the diamonds reminds me that my respected father-in-law, Mr. Briggs, informs me that a celebrated detective, whom it seems he has engaged--Taylor, I think the name is--will be here to-morrow to explain the diamond mystery, so you see you have a competitor.” “Oh, is Cadbury coming? That is too jolly for anything. I simply _must_ stay and hear his explanation, for he is a very famous detective, and the conclusions he has arrived at must be most interesting.” “I think some explanations are due to me as well. My worthy father-in-law seems to have commissioned this person without thinking it necessary to consult me in the least; in fact, Mr. Briggs goes about the castle looking so dark and lowering when he meets me, that I sometimes doubt whether this is my own house or not.” “And is it?” “Is it what?” “Is it your own house? I was told it was mortgaged up to the tallest turret. Still, you can’t blame Mr. Briggs for being anxious about the diamonds; they belong to his daughter.” “They belong to my wife.” “True. That complicates matters a bit, and gives both Chicago and Vienna a right to look black. And now, your Highness, I must take my leave of you; and if the diamonds come safely in the morning, remember I intend to claim salvage on them. Meanwhile, I am going to write a nice little story about them.” In the morning the diamonds arrived by special messenger, who first took a formal receipt for them, and then most obsequiously took his departure. By the same train came Mr. Cadbury Taylor, as modest as ever, but giving some indication in his bearing of the importance of the discovery his wonderful system had aided him in making. He blandly evaded the curiosity of Mr. Briggs, and said it would perhaps be better to reveal the secret in the presence of the Prince and Princess, as his investigations had led him to conclusions that might be unpleasant for one of them to hear, yet were not to be divulged in their absence. “Just what I suspected,” muttered Mr. Briggs, who had long been convinced that the Prince was the actual culprit.