“And why not now?”
“Because I have formed a new theory. But have the goodness to give me the watch.”
“I cannot,” said the Frenchman, graciously. “Not at present.”
There was a pause. The sound of music was heard from the café.
“But, my dear sir, I insist.” Cecil spoke positively.
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?”