"On the other hand you have four thousand francs," protested the detective. "Besides, what else should I do? If I name myself, the very people we are seeking to catch-who, you may be sure, will be the first to read this advertisement-will know that I, the great, the incomparable Hanaud, am after them; and I do not want them to know that. Besides"-and he spoke now in a gentle and most serious voice-"why should we make life more difficult for Mlle. Celie by telling the world that the police want her? It will be time enough for that when she appears before the Juge d’Instruction."
Mr. Ricardo grumbled inarticulately, and read through the advertisement again.
"Besides, your description is incomplete," he said. "There is no mention of the diamond earrings which Celia Harland was wearing when she went away."
"Ah! so you noticed that!" exclaimed Hanaud. "A little more experience and I should be looking very closely to my laurels. But as for the earrings-I will tell you, Mlle. Celie was not wearing them when she went away from the Villa Rose."
"But-but," stammered Ricardo, "the case upon the dressing-room table was empty."
"Still, she was not wearing them, I know," said Hanaud decisively.
"How do you know?" cried Ricardo, gazing at Hanaud with awe in his eyes. "How could you know?"
"Because"-and Hanaud struck a majestic attitude, like a king in a play-"because I am the captain of the ship."
Upon that Mr. Ricardo suffered a return of his ill-humour.
"I do not like to be trifled with," he remarked, with as much dignity as his ruffled hair and the bed-clothes allowed him. He looked sternly at the newspaper, turning it over, and then he uttered a cry of surprise.