He relocked the bag, opened the door of the stateroom, and locking it again securely prepared to leave the spot.
He was only just in time, for the occupant of the stateroom appeared a minute later, accompanied by a younger man.
"Yes," Kirby heard him say. "I bought a watch for my daughter from Tiffany. I'll show it to you."
"A narrow escape!" murmured Kirby. "If he had found me in his stateroom, there would have been no end of a disturbance. I got through just in time."
Kirby went into the saloon, and taking out an evening paper began to read it attentively, or rather he appeared to, but out of the corner of his eyes he was watching for the return of the gentleman he had robbed.
He did not have long to wait. The two gentlemen came into the saloon, and one, the elder, seemed much excited.
"I tell you, Johnson," he said, "there are thieves on board. I left the watch in a pasteboard box in my hand bag less than half an hour since—indeed I think it is only fifteen minutes, and it has disappeared."
"Are you absolutely sure, Mr. Margrave?"
"Yes, for when I went to my stateroom, after coming up from the supper room, I opened the bag and saw that the box was there."