got clear away. I suppose
he became a small customer, in order to inspire confidence--eh?"

"Well, he came in this morning, saying that he wished to give his wife a
tiara for the anniversary of her wedding, and asked that he might have
two on approval, as he was undecided which to choose, and wished her to
pick for herself. He left his car and chauffeur here till his return,
and took away two worth five thousand pounds each. I, of course, had not
the slightest suspicion. Lord Ixwell--the name by which we know him--is
reputed everywhere to be one of the richest peers in the kingdom."

"Yes. But, you see, Detective-Sergeant Rodwell here, chanced to see him
come out of the shop, and, recognising him as the jewel-thief we've
wanted for months past, followed his cab down to Charing Cross Station,
and there arrested him and took him to Bow Street."

I stood utterly dumbfounded at this sudden ending of what I had believed
would be an ideal engagement.

"What's your name?" inquired the inspector.

"George Ewart," was my answer. "I only entered the Count's service
yesterday."

"And yet you told me you had been his chauffeur for a long time!"
exclaimed the jeweller's manager.

"Well," said the elder of the detectives, "we shall arrest you, at any
rate. You must come round to Bow Street, and I warn you that any
statement you may make will be taken down and used as evidence against
you."

"Arrest me!" I cried. "Why, I haven't done anything! I'm perfectly
innocent. I had no idea that----"

"Well, you have more than an idea now, haven't you?" laughed the
detective. "But come along; we have no time to lose," and he asked the
manager to order a four-wheeled cab.

I remonstrated in indignation, but to no avail.

"What about the car?" I asked anxiously, as we went outside together and
stepped into the cab, the third police-officer, who had been on guard
outside, holding open the door, while the constable who had been
worrying me about the car stood looking on.

"Diplock, you can drive a motor-car," exclaimed the inspector, turning
to the detective at the cab door. "Just bring that round to Bow Street
as quick as you can."

The constable took in the situation at a glance. He saw that I had been
arrested, and asked the detectives if they needed any assistance. But
the reply was negative, and with the inspector at my side and the
sergeant opposite, we moved off towards Piccadilly, the jeweller's
manager having been request