oved it."

Then it was proven that, at the time of the theft, Rozaine was
promenading on the deck. To which fact, his enemies replied that a man
like Arsene Lupin could commit a crime without being actually present.
And then, apart from all other circumstances, there remained one point
which even the most skeptical could not answer: Who except Rozaine, was
traveling alone, was a blonde, and bore a name beginning with R? To whom
did the telegram point, if it were not Rozaine?

And when Rozaine, a few minutes before breakfast, came boldly toward our
group, Miss Nelly and Lady Jerland arose and walked away.

An hour later, a manuscript circular was passed from hand to hand
amongst the sailors, the stewards, and the passengers of all classes.
It announced that Mon. Louis Rozaine offered a reward of ten thousand
francs for the discovery of Arsene Lupin or other person in possession
of the stolen jewels.

"And if no one assists me, I will unmask the scoundrel myself," declared
Rozaine.

Rozaine against Arsene Lupin, or rather, according to current opinion,
Arsene Lupin himself against Arsene Lupin; the contest promised to be
interesting.

Nothing developed during the next two days. We saw Rozaine wandering
about, day and night, searching, questioning, investigating. The
captain, also, displayed commendable activity. He caused the vessel to
be searched from stern to stern; ransacked every stateroom under the
plausible theory that the jewels might be concealed anywhere, except in
the thief's own room.

"I suppose they will find out something soon," remarked Miss Nelly to
me. "He may be a wizard, but he cannot make diamonds and pearls become
invisible."

"Certainly not," I replied, "but he should examine the lining of our
hats and vests and everything we carry with us."

Then, exhibiting my Kodak, a 9x12 with which I had been photographing
her in various poses, I added: "In an apparatus no larger than that, a
person could hide all of Lady Jerland's jewels. He could pretend to take
pictures and no one would suspect the game."

"But I have heard it said that every thief leaves some clue behind him."

"That may be generally true," I replied, "but there is one exception:
Arsene Lupin."

"Why?"

"Because he concentrates his thoughts not only on the theft, but on all
the circumstances connected with it that could serve as a clue to his
identity."

"A few days ago, you were more confident."

"Yes, but since I have