He was a guest at the splendid villa of Countess Ahmberg, near Vienna, when her magnificent collection of pearls disappeared.

You remember that loss, and the excitement it caused, do you not ?" "No, sir; I have never before heard of the Countess of Ahmberg or her pearls." "Well, the story filled the newspapers for a couple of weeks.

The collection embraced the rarest and most valuable pearls known to exist." "And you accuse this man, Andrews, of stealing them ?" asked Uncle John, tapping with his finger the portrait he still held.
"By no means, sir; by no means!" cried Le Drieux hastily.

"In fact, he was one of the few guests at the villa to whom no suspicion attached.
From the moment the casket of pearls was last seen by the countess until their loss was discovered, every moment of Andrews' time was accounted for.

His alibi was perfect and he was quite prominent in the unsuccessful quest of the thief." "The pearls were not recovered, then ?" "No.