“Yes,” he said quietly, “these people are pretty thorough. You say you’ve lost nothing?” Mr. Warrell shook his head. “Yes and no,” he said carefully. “There was a diamond necklace which was deposited there last week by a client of ours--that has gone. I am anxious for the moment that this loss should not be reported.” The detective looked at him wonderingly. “That is rather a curious request,” he said, with a smile; “and you don’t usually have diamond necklaces in a stockbroker’s office--if I may be allowed to make that critical remark.” Mr. Warrell smiled. “It isn’t usual,” he said, “but a client of ours who went abroad last week came in just twenty minutes before the train left, and asked us to take care of the jewel cases.” Mr. Warrell said this carelessly. He did not explain to the detective that they were held as security against the very large difference which the client had incurred; nor did he think it necessary to explain that he had kept the jewels in the office in the hope that the embarrassed lady might be able to redeem them. “Did anybody know they were there except yourself and your partners?” Warrell shook his head. “I don’t think so. I have never mentioned it to anybody. Have you, Leslie?” Leslie hesitated. “Well, I’m bound to admit that I did,” he confessed, “though it was to somebody who would not repeat it.” “Who was it?” asked Warrell. “To Gilbert Standerton. I certainly mentioned the matter when we were discussing safe robberies.” The elder man nodded. “I hardly think he is the sort of person who is likely to burgle a safe.” He smiled. “It is a very curious coincidence,” said Leslie reflectively, “that he and I were talking about this very gang only a couple of days ago before he was married. I suppose,” he asked the detective suddenly, “there is no doubt that this is the work of your international friend?” Chief Inspector Goldberg nodded his head. “No doubt whatever, sir,” he said. “There is only one gang in England which could do this, and I could lay my hands on them to-day, but it would be a million pounds to one against my being able to secure at the same time evidence to convict them.” Leslie nodded brightly. “That is what I was telling Gilbert,” he said, turning to his partner. “Isn’t it extraordinary that these things can be in the twentieth century? Here we have three or four men who are known--you told me their names, Inspector, after the last attempt--and yet the police are powerless to bring home their guilt to them. It does seem curious, doesn’t it?” Inspector Goldberg was not amused, but he permitted himself to smile politely. “But then you’ve got to remember how difficult it is to collect evidence against men who work on such a huge scale as do these bank smashers. What I can’t understand,” he said, “is what attraction your safe has for them. This second attempt is a much more formidable one than the last.”