m; it's a hunch. By-by!"

Later, the detective was conducted into the Maharajah's reception-room.
The prince, in his soft drawling English (far more erudite and polished
than Haggerty's, if not so direct), explained the situation, omitting
no detail. He would give two thousand five hundred for the recovery of
the stones.

"At what are they valued?"

"By your customs appraisers, forty thousand. To me they are priceless."

"Six t' ten carats? Why, they're worth more than that."

The prince smiled. "That was for the public."

"I'll take a look int' your bedroom," said Haggerty, rising.

"Oh, no; that is not at all necessary," protested the prince.

"How d' you suppose I'm going t' find out who done it, or how it was
done, then?" demanded Haggerty, bewildered.

A swift oriental gesture.

The hotel manager soothed Haggerty by explaining that the prince's
caste would not permit an alien to touch anything in the bedroom while
it contained the prince's belongings.

"Well, wouldn't that get your goat!" exploded Haggerty. "That lets me
out. You'll have to get a clairyvoint."

The prince suggested that he be given another suite. His servants
would remove his belongings. He promised that nothing else should be
touched.

"How long'll it take you?"

"An hour."

"All right," assented Haggerty. "Who's got th' suite across th' hall?"
he asked of the manager, as they left the prince.

"Lord Monckton. He and his valet left this morning for Bar Harbor.
Back Tuesday. A house-party of Fifth Avenue people."

"Uhuh." Haggerty tugged at his mustache. "I might look around in
there while I'm waiting for his Majesty t' change. Did y'ever hear th'
likes? Bug-house."

"But he pays a hundred the day, Haggerty. I'll let you privately into
Lord Monckton's suite. But you'll waste your time."

"Sure he left this morning?"

"I'll phone the office and make sure. . . . Lord Monckton left shortly
after midnight. His man followed early this morning. Lord Monckton
went by his host's yacht. But the man followed by rail."

"What's his man look like?"

"Slim and very dark, and very quiet."

"Well, I'll take a look."

The manager was right. Haggerty had his trouble for nothing. There
was no clue whatever in Lord Monckton's suite. There was no paper in
the waste-baskets, in the fireplace; the blotters on the writing-desk
were spotless. Some clothes were hanging in the closets, but these
revealed only their f