"If you succeed," said Sir Hubert Fitzjames, "the Government will make you a baronet." "If you succeed," growled Talbot, "I will get even with that Frenchman." "And when you succeed," said Fairholme, in a matter-of-fact tone that indicated the wild improbability of any other outcome, "Edith and I will get married!" CHAPTER XIV "TOUT VA BIEN" Brett now deemed it advisable to take the commissary of police fully into his confidence. The official promptly suggested that every personage in Paris connected even remotely with the mystery--Gros Jean, the Turks, the waiter at the Café Noir, and even the little thief "Le Ver"--should be arrested and subjected to a _procès verbal_. But Brett would not hear of this proceeding. He quite firmly reminded the commissary that the wishes of the British Government must be respected in this matter, and the proposed wholesale arrests of persons, some of whom were in no way cognisant of the crime, would assuredly lead to publicity and the appearance of sensational statements in the Press. "But, monsieur," cried the Frenchman, "something must be done. Even you, I presume, intend to lay hands on the principal men. While they are wandering about the country each hour makes it easier for them to secrete the diamonds so effectually that no matter what may be the result the Sultan will never recover his property." "Calm yourself, I beg," said the barrister, with difficulty compelling himself to reason with this excitable policeman. "You speak as though we had in our hands every jot of evidence to secure the conviction of Dubois and his associates before a judge." "But is it not so?" screamed the other.