Astounded, the girl turned a flushed, incredulous face to Stormont.
He said: "You may trust Darragh as you trust me. I don't know what he has to say to you, dear. But whatever he says will be the truth."
Darragh said, gravely: "Through a misunderstanding your father came into possession of stolen property, Eve. He did not know it had been stolen. I did. But Mike Clinch would not have believed me if I told him that the case of jewels in his possession had been stolen from a woman. … Quintana stole them. By accident they came into your father's possession. I learned of this. I had promised this woman to recover her jewels.
"I cam here for that purpose, Eve. And for two reasons: first, because I learned that Quintana also was coming here to rob your father of these gems; second, because, when I knew your father, and knew you, I concluded that it would be an outrage to call on the police. I would mean prison for Clinch, misery and ruin for you, Eve. So — I tried to steal the jewels … to save you both."
He looked at Stormont, who seemed astonished.
"To whom do these jewels belong, Jim?" demanded the trooper.
"To the young Grand Duchess of Esthonia. … Do you remember that I befriended her over there?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember that the Reds were accused of burning her chateau and looting it?"
"Yes, I remember."