"Then you think it the work of some sort of organized band?"
"I think exactly as you do," she replied cryptically, "only I have foundation for my belief, while you are—rather, your department, is—well, romancing."
Silence fell. The man was the first to speak.
"I'm to infer, then, that in your opinion Chavigny had nothing whatever to do with the robberies?"
She smiled. "Did I say that?"
"At least, you hinted that there is something rather big behind the thefts."
She continued to smile and leaned upon the desk, facing him.
"To come to the purpose of this call, Sir Francis. If you will give me four months—and a free rein—you have my word that I will recover every jewel that was stolen on the night of June fourteenth."
It was with difficulty that the Director of Central Intelligence smothered an impulse to smile and suggested soberly:
"Won't you be more explicit? This is—well, from my viewpoint, it seems rather incredible."