Von Stunnenberg cast a quick look at Hoffer. The latter's small head turned slowly upon the secret agent.
"Matsadi did arrange the scene," said he, and there was admiration in his voice. "No stage manager could have done better. He had not watched the English girl more than a moment when he saw—as did you and I," with a conclusive wave of the hand, "that the papers desired were in the bag at her side. At sight of the Italian woman he grasped his opportunity for creating a momentary ruffle; in the midst of this, at a signal, his confederate allowed the revolver to explode, so transforming the slight confusion into a panic. During this his agent was to abstract the document."
Ashton-Kirk nodded, after the manner of one workman exchanging experiences with another.
"That was not all that I saw," went on Hoffer. "I saw Matsadi's agent making his way toward Miss Corbin to play his part, before the discharge of the revolver. Also," and the big jaws tightened, "I saw you doing your best to anticipate him."
Ashton-Kirk laughed, and there was an odd expression in his singular eyes.
"Was there nothing more that you noticed?" he asked.
"It was sufficient," put in Von Stunnenberg, grimly, "that he saw you reach the girl's side before the Japanese. And, if anything more were needed, an instant after you got within reaching distance, Miss Corbin discovered that the papers were gone."
"And that Okiu was baffled," said Hoffer, "one had only to give him a glance to discover. The rage in his face showed that you had beaten them—that you had taken the prize out of their own trap."
Ashton-Kirk laughed once more.