s not taken a
stateroom."

Duvall continued his walk about the decks for a few moments longer, then
threw away his cigar, and descended to the saloon. A number of
passengers were dozing on the sofas, or in chairs, and at a table
several were playing cards. He paused for a moment to watch the game,
his eyes searching the room for the man in the brown overcoat. After a
time he located him, sprawled in an easy chair, his eyes closed, his
satchel tossed carelessly upon the floor beside him.

The detective began to stroll about the place, as though in deep
thought. His eyes were fixed, however, upon the face of the man in the
chair. It was a determined face, as the thin lips and close-set eyes
showed, but Duvall noted with satisfaction signs of weakness about the
half-open mouth. The man was undoubtedly sleeping soundly.

Duvall was at a loss to know just what to do. He was convinced that the
ivory snuff box, upon the recovery of which Monsieur Lefevre had assured
him the honor of France itself depended, was within ten feet of him, yet
he could do nothing, apparently, at the moment, to regain it. To arrest
the man, except on French soil, was out of the question. Even could he
do so, the package which the latter had so carelessly slipped into his
overcoat pocket in Monsieur Perrier's shop might contain, after all, but
a harmless box of rice powder, and he would be hard put to explain
satisfactorily his action. On the other hand, the presence of the snuff
box on the man's person, supposing this to be beyond question, was not
in itself sufficient to warrant placing him under arrest. He might claim
it as his own property. There was nothing to show that it had been
stolen. Clearly the only thing to do was to attempt to get the box from
him by stealth.

After a long time spent in debating the matter pro and con., Duvall
threw himself into a chair close to the one which the man he was
watching occupied, and pretended to sleep. Of Dufrenne he saw nothing.
After perhaps an hour, the card game ceased, the players retired to
their staterooms, or to near-by sofas, and a steward began to lower the
lights. Presently not a sound was to be heard throughout the saloon,
except the chorus of snores from the sleeping passengers, and the
creaking of the vessel as she plunged into the heavy Channel swell.

The detective slowly advanced his foot, and with infinite patience,
began to draw toward him the small leather satchel which lay beside t