Arthur Sherburne Hardy

“ You know our naval attaché at Berlin, Foucquet—a charming fellow with the engaging manners and open-hearted nature of men who follow the sea. It seems that some ten days ago he left Berlin for Paris on leave of absence, and that our ambassador confided to him despatches for the Foreign Office—despatches of a highly confidential character, containing information and observations for the minister's private ear. With these official papers were also certain heirlooms, family jewels, for Madame de Caraman who, you recollect, is of German descent. ”

“ The usual crowd surrounded the green table where the bourgeois were stupidly losing their francs. It always amazes me that people of intelligence should disregard in gambling the prudence which governs them in other pursuits of money. Obviously, the chances are against them. It is the green table which pays for the luxury of their surroundings. But why not take the best chance offered? That was precisely what one of the players was doing—losing her francs intelligently. ”

“ No ordinary thief is in a position to obtain this knowledge, or has at his disposal a charming confederate with a cigarette-case initialed in diamonds. It is conceivable that a person interested in the despatches should be aware of their possession by Foucquet, but it is not so easy to believe that a bandit envious of Madame de Caraman's heirlooms should know the means taken by the embassy to restore them to her. No; all the circumstances point to a trail leading to that bit of foreign soil in the heart of Paris called the German embassy. ”

“ To his amazement, while watching to see how his rival would deal with this eccentric customer, M. Joly seemed to be disposing of trunks instead of acquiring them, for shortly after his disappearance the trunk on the cab followed him into the rival establishment.
The return of an article once paid for and delivered is a test of human nature. Between offending a customer and losing a profit, the choice is difficult. M. Joly was apologetic. He had no complaint to make. He did not represent the purchaser. The trunk had gone astray in the customs. ”

“ Fear at last triumphs over discretion and he turns the handle. The door is locked. Thoroughly alarmed, he calls the porter, who explains that, seeing madame had gone to the buffet, he had locked the door in her absence. Momentarily reassured, Foucquet waits nervously in the corridor. But his fears return. Travelers are resuming their places; the train is about to start. Resolved at all events to secure the despatch-box, he orders the porter to open the door. The porter demurs. It is not the gentleman's compartment. ”

“ M. Joly was lost in thought. So, “all the time,” while he was pursuing the missing label among the trunk-makers of Luxembourg, she had “thought so”!
“It is true,” he said, a little bitterly, “all's well that ends well. Madame de Caraman recovers her heirlooms without paying the reward. There is joy at the Ministry. Foucquet is triumphant. Every one is satisfied.”
“Except Pichon.”
“Pichon!”
“Certainly, since there is no criminal.”
M. Joly relaxed. Pichon had indeed been disappointed. An investigation which failed to produce a criminal was a travesty of justice. ”

“ The trail was too plain. Frequently, indeed, in his experience stupidity or desperation had put him on the track. How often, for a moment of gratification, passion had risked the discovery of the crime it had incited! ”

“ Owing to the recent death of her mother and the settlement of the estate, these heirlooms reverted to Madame de Caraman, and advantage was taken of this opportunity to convey them to her in the embassy pouch—a practice in my opinion much abused.
“Well, at the station in Berlin Foucquet makes the acquaintance of a lady—oh, a lady to the tips of her pink finger-nails!—in distress over the non-appearance of her maid, and takes that chivalrous first step which costs. A fascinating young person adrift on the sea of life naturally appeals to a sailor. ”