"For a moment I was nonplussed; more than that, I was completely
staggered. I had expected him to say at once that he had not lost
his watch, but had come to see me about the tiara; and to have him
take my words seriously was entirely unexpected and overwhelmingly
surprising. However, in view of his rank, I deemed it well to fall
in with his humour. 'Oh, as for that,' I replied, 'that is a part of
my business. It is the detective's place to know everything; and
generally, if he reveals the machinery by means of which he reaches
his conclusions, he is a fool, since his method is his secret, and
his secret his stock-in-trade. I do not mind telling you, however,
that I knew your watch was stolen by your anxious glance at my clock,
which showed that you wished to know the time. Now most rich
Americans have watches for that purpose, and have no hesitation about
showing them. If you'd had a watch, you'd have looked at it, not at
my clock.'

"My visitor laughed, and repeated what he had said about my being a
wonderful man.

"'And the dents which my son made cutting his teeth?' he added.

"'Invariably go with an American's watch. Rubber or ivory rings
aren't good enough for American babies to chew on,' said I. 'They
must have gold watches or nothing.'

"'And finally, how did you know I was a rich American?' he asked.

"'Because no other can afford to stop at hotels like the Savoy in the
height of the season,' I replied, thinking that the jest would end