e two stones, though I have the written record
complete, with names of all the victims. Suffice it to say that for
years no one was the gainer by getting possession of them. They have
always been impossible to sell, until I bought this one, which is the
first time either ever was offered honestly in the market. Before this,
each new owner had obtained the jewels either by theft or murder, and
dared not admit that he had them. Another curious thing is that no one
has ever succeeded in hiding the jewels, so that they could not be
found. They have been secreted between the stones of a wall, they have
been sewn under the hide of an ass, and hidden in other equally obscure
places, yet always the next thief has found and taken them."

"Ah, that is interesting," said Mr. Thauret. "But tell us frankly, since
we are pledged not to repeat what we hear, do you suppose there is any
power inherent in the stone which attracts persons to their discovery?"

"I cannot say, but that is one of the claims. This seems to be
substantiated by recent events too."

"How so?"

"Well, my usual interest in large gems led me to police head-quarters
when that woman Rose Mitchel was killed after having been robbed. The
jewels you remember had been quickly recovered and are still in the
hands of the police. I was allowed to see them, and the ruby in that lot
is undoubtedly the mate to mine."

"You think that it was the presence of that stone which led to the
discovery by the police of the satchel containing the jewels?"

Mr. Thauret seemed much interested, but Mr. Mitchel merely shrugged his
shoulders for answer, though it seemed plain that he did hold that
opinion. Mr. Barnes wondered whether Mr. Thauret's interest was due to
the fact that, having stolen the jewels, he was astonished to hear of so
strange an explanation of their recovery from the hotel where he had
hidden them. Yet the man's next words seemed to dispel such an idea. He
said:

"You may believe in that sort of thing, Mr. Mitchel, but I, who have
only modern ideas, cannot accept any such theory. The fact that the
stones have always been discovered when hidden has led those who know
the history to mistake a chain of coincidences for evidence of
supernatural power within the stones themselves. I think I can readily
account for the series of hidings and findings."

"I should be pleased to have you do so," said Mr. Mitchel.

"Have you never read Edgar Poe's tale, the one where a l