"Heard something of it, my lord," replied Matherfield.
"Very well. Now, quite recently Madame Listorelle bought up in Paris a magnificent set of stones which had been at one time the property of a member of the Russian Imperial family. She brought them here to London, meaning, shortly, either to send or take them personally to America to her customer. This deal, unfortunately, got into the papers. Now, it's my belief that these fellows have kidnapped madame in order to get hold of these jewels. Do you see?"
"Ah!" exclaimed Matherfield. "I see, my lord! That puts a new aspect on the case. But--surely Madame Listorelle wouldn't have the stones on her?"
Lord Morradale winked--deliberately--at both his hearers.
"No!" he said. "No--she wouldn't. But the scoundrels would figure on this--that when she was fairly in their power they would be in a position to make her give them up--to force her, in short, to disclose their whereabouts. If they're desperate villains, not likely to stick at anything, I think they'll have forced madame to compliance--and in doing so give you a chance to lay hands on them!"
"How, my lord?" asked Matherfield eagerly.
Lord Morradale gave the two men a confidential glance.
"This way," he replied. "The jewels were deposited, for safety, by Madame Listorelle at the Imperial Safe Deposit. She rents a safe there. Now, don't you see what I'm suggesting? These men may force her to give them the necessary key and a signed order to the safe people to let the bearer open madame's safe and take away a certain case in which the jewels are packed. That's what I think will be done. And what you ought to do is to see the Imperial Safe Deposit officials at once, warn them of what I suggest may happen, and take your own means of watching for such a messenger arriving, and for tracking him when he departs. Eh?"
"Or arresting him there and then," said Matherfield.
"No, I shouldn't!" declared Lord Morradale. "I'm not a policeman, you know, but I can give a hint to one. Instead of arresting the man--who, you must remember, will be sure to have madame's written authority on him--that is if things turn out as I suggest--I should carefully follow him. For--he'll probably go back to where madame and the young lady, Miss What's-her-name, are detained! Eh?"