"The story is finished," declared the Naval Attache; "until Lord
Arthur is arrested or the bodies are found there is nothing more to
tell of either Chetney or the Princess Zichy."

"Of Lord Chetney perhaps not," interrupted the sporting-looking
gentleman with the black tie, "but there'll always be something to
tell of the Princess Zichy. I know enough stories about her to fill a
book. She was a most remarkable woman." The speaker dropped the end
of his cigar into his coffee cup and, taking his case from his pocket,
selected a fresh one. As he did so he laughed and held up the case
that the others might see it. It was an ordinary cigar-case of
well-worn pig-skin, with a silver clasp.

"The only time I ever met her," he said, "she tried to rob me of
this."

The Baronet regarded him closely.

"She tried to rob you?" he repeated.

"Tried to rob me of this," continued the gentleman in the black tie,
"and of the Czarina's diamonds." His tone was one of mingled
admiration and injury.

"The Czarina's diamonds!" exclaimed the Baronet. He glanced quickly
and suspiciously at the speaker, and then at the others about the
table. But their faces gave evidence of no other emotion than that of
ordinary interest.