The Frenchman laughed. “I will be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Thorold. Your cleverness in forming a new theory of the great robbery merits all my candour. My name is Sylvain, and I am head of the detective force of Algiers, _chef de la sureté_. You will perceive that I cannot part with the watch without proper formalities. Mr. Thorold, the robbery at the Hôtel St. James was a work of the highest criminal art. Possibly I had better tell you the nature of our recent discoveries.” “I always thought well of the robbery,” Cecil observed, “and my opinion of it is rising. Pray continue.” “According to your new theory, Mr. Thorold, how many persons were on board the _Perroquet Vert_ when she began to sink?” “Three,” said Cecil promptly, as though answering a conundrum. The Frenchman beamed. “You are admirable,” he exclaimed. “Yes, instead of eighteen, there were three. The wreck of the _Perroquet Vert_ carefully pre-arranged; the visit of the boat to the _Perroquet Vert_ off Mustapha Inférieure was what you call, I believe, a ‘plant.’ The stolen goods never left dry land. There were three Arabs only on the _Perroquet Vert_--one to steer her, and the other two in the engine-room. And these three were very careful to get themselves saved. They scuttled their ship in sight of your yacht and of another vessel. There is no doubt, Mr. Thorold,” the Frenchman smiled with a hint of irony, “that the thieves were fully _au courant_ of your doings on the _Claribel_. The shipwreck was done deliberately, with you and your yacht for an audience. It was a masterly stroke,” he proceeded, almost enthusiastically, “for it had the effect, not merely of drawing away suspicion from the true direction, but of putting an end to all further inquiries. Were not the goods at the bottom of the sea, and the thieves drowned? What motive could the police have for further activity? In six months--nay, three months--all the notes and securities could be safely negotiated, because no measures would have to be taken to stop them. Why take measures to stop notes that are at the bottom of the sea?” “But the three survivors who are now in prison,” Cecil said. “Their behaviour, their lying, needs some accounting for.” “Quite simple,” the Frenchman went on. “They are in prison for three years. What is that to an Arab? He will suffer it with stoicism. Say that ten thousand francs are deposited with each of their families. When they come out, they are rich for life. At a cost of thirty thousand francs and the price of the ship--say another thirty thousand--the thieves reasonably expected to obtain absolute security.” “It was a heroic idea!” said Cecil. “It was,” said the Frenchman. “But it has failed.” “Evidently. But why?” “Can you ask? You know as well as I do! It has failed, partly because there were too many persons in the secret, partly because of the Arab love of display on great occasions, and partly because of a mole on a man’s chin.”