“Come, that is foolish. Every door and window is guarded.”

“Except one.”

“Which?”

The one I will choose.”

“Mere words! Your arrest is as good as made.”

“Oh! no—not at all.”

“Well?”

“I shall keep the blue diamond.”

Sholmes looked at his watch, and said:

“It is now ten minutes to three. At three o’clock I shall call Ganimard.”