As soon as he was gone, Mr. Tomlinson's manner changed quickly. Thrusting a hand into his pocket, he withdrew it with a cry of alarm. Then he fixed upon Matt and Carl a suspicious look.
"Did you boys see anything of a bag, a little green silk bag?" he demanded.
Matt took the bag from his pocket and handed it to him.
"It dropped out of your coat as we were lifting you into the car," said he.
A gasp of relief went up from the man.
"Do you know what it contains?" he queried, opening the bag with trembling fingers.
"Pearls," said Matt, "twenty black pearls."
Assuring himself that the pearls were all in the bag, Tomlinson closed it and pushed it into his pocket.
"These pearls are worth thirty thousand dollars," said he, in a guarded tone. "You boys are honest, and will be rewarded, but say nothing to anybody about the bag. Understand?"