“The Chief wants to use her in the Denby case, so he had me write her a letter saying we’d received a package from Paris containing dutiable goods, a diamond ring, and would she kindly call this afternoon and straighten out the matter.” Duncan now assumed an air of triumph. “And she fell for a fake like that!” “I get you,” said Gibbs. “But what does he want her for?” “I told you, the Denby case.” “What’s that?” Gibbs entreated. Duncan lowered his voice. “The biggest smuggling job Taylor ever handled.” “You don’t say so,” Gibbs returned, duly impressed. “Why, nobody’s told me anything about it.” “Can you keep your mouth shut?” Duncan inquired mysteriously. “Sure,” Gibbs declared. “I ain’t married.” “Then just take a peek out of the door, will you?” Duncan directed. The other did as he was bid. “It’s all right,” he declared, finding the corridor empty. “I never know when he may stop out there and listen to what I’m saying. You can hear pretty plain.” “He is the original pussy-foot, ain’t he,” Gibbs returned. He had known of Taylor’s reputation for finding out what was going on in his office by any method. “Now, what’s it all about?” Duncan grew very confidential. “Last week the Chief got a cable from Harlow, a salesman in Cartier’s.” “What’s Cartier’s?” Gibbs inquired. “The biggest jewelry shop in Paris. Harlow’s our secret agent there. His cable said that an American named Steven Denby had bought a pearl necklace there for a million francs. That’s two hundred thousand dollars.” “Gee!” Gibbs cried, duly impressed by such a sum, “But who’s Steven Denby? Some new millionaire? I never heard of him.” “Neither did I,” Duncan told him; “and we can’t find out anything about him and that’s what makes us so suspicious. You ought to be able to get some dope on a man who can fling two hundred thousand dollars away on a string of pearls.” Gibbs’ professional interest was aroused. “Did he slip it by the Customs, then?” “He hasn’t landed yet,” Duncan answered. “He’s on the Mauretania.” “Why, she’s about due,” Gibbs cried. “I know,” Duncan retorted, “I’ve just had Ford on the ’phone about it. This fellow Denby is traveling with Montague Vaughan--son of the big banker--and Mrs. Michael Harrington.” “You mean _the_ Mrs. Michael Harrington?” Gibbs demanded eagerly. “Sure,” Duncan exclaimed, “there’s only one.” Gibbs was plainly disappointed at this ending to the story. “If he’s a friend of Mrs. Harrington and young Vaughan, he ain’t no smuggler. He’ll declare the necklace.” “The Chief has a hunch he won’t,” Duncan said. “He thinks this Denby is some slick confidence guy who has wormed his way into the Harringtons’ confidence so he won’t be suspected.” Gibbs considered the situation for a moment. “Maybe he ain’t traveling with the party at all but just picked ’em up on the boat.”