Why did they let you come here where you were in a better position to baffle them ?" She shook her head.

"I cannot explain--except, perhaps, that Spidel had not arrived that night, and Leon may have been waiting instructions." The other still looked dissatisfied.

"They are either clumsier villains than I take them to be, or there is something deeper in the business than we understand.

These jewels--are they here ?" His tone was so sharp that she looked startled--almost suspicious.

Then she saw that in his face which reassured her.