With practised fingers the detective explored rapidly Mr. Minot's person and pockets. The victim of the search stood limp, helpless. What could he do? There was no escape. It was all up now--for whatever reason they desired Chain Lightning's Collar, they could not fail to have it in another minute. Side pockets--trousers pockets--now! The inner coat pocket! Its contents were in the detective's hand. Minot stared down. A little gasp escaped him. The envelope that held Chain Lightning's Collar was not among them! Two minutes longer Huntley pursued, then with an oath of disappointment he turned to O'Malley. "Hasn't got it!" he announced. Minot swept aside the profuse apologies of the hotel detective, and somehow got out of the room. In a daze, he sought 389. He didn't have it! Didn't have Chain Lightning's Collar! Who did? It was while he sat steaming in a hot bath that an idea came to him. The struggle on the deck of the _Lileth_, with Martin Wall panting at his side! The tug on his coat as they all went down together. The genial spirits of Wall thereafter. The sudden start for New York. No question about it--Chain Lightning's Collar was well out at sea now. And yet--why had Wall stopped to take the occupants of the launch aboard? After his bath, Minot donned pajamas and a dressing-gown and ventured out to find Lord Harrowby's suite. With difficulty he succeeded in arousing the sleeping peer. Harrowby let him in, and then sat down on his bed and stared at him. "What is it?" he inquired sleepily. Briefly Minot told him of the circumstances preceding the start of the _Lileth_ for New York, of his return to the hotel, and the search party he encountered there. Harrowby was very wide awake by this time. "That finishes us," he groaned. "Wait a minute," Minot said. "They didn't find the necklace. I didn't have it. I'd lost it." "Lost it?" "Yes. And if you want my opinion, I think Martin Wall stole it from me on the _Lileth_ and is now on his way--" Harrowby leaped from bed, and seized Minot gleefully by the hand. "Dear old chap. What the deuce do I care who took it. It's gone. Thank God--it's gone." "But--I don't understand--" "No. But you can understand this much. Everything's all right. Nothing in the way of the wedding now. It's splendid! Splendid!" "But--the necklace was stolen--" "Yes. Good! Very good! My dear Minot, the luckiest thing that can happen to us will be--never, never to see Chain Lightning's Collar again!" As completely at sea as he had been that night--which was more or less at sea--Minot returned to his room. It was after three o'clock. He turned out his lights and sought his bed. Many wild conjectures kept him awake at first, but this had been the busiest day of his life. Soon he slept, and dreamed thrilling dreams. The sun was bright outside his windows when he was aroused by a knock. "What is it?" he cried. "A package for you, sir," said a bell-boy voice.