"You mean von Schaumberg?"

"Yes."

"I believe the Princess does think he stole them, and the reason the
Princess protects him is to prevent you from challenging him, for she
fears that he, being a military man, will kill you, although I fancy she
would be well rid of you."

"But he stole the diamonds--there was nobody else."

"He did nothing of the kind. Read that!"

The Prince, bewildered, took the sheet that she handed to him and read
it, a wrinkle of bewilderment corrugating his brow.

"I don't understand what this has to do with the case," he said at last.
"It seems to be an order on the bank at Vienna for the diamonds, written
by the Princess herself."

"Of course it is. Well, if the diamonds had been delivered, that paper
would now be in the possession of the bank instead of in your hands."

"Perhaps she mislaid this order and wrote another."

"Perhaps. Still it might be worth while finding out."

"Take this, then, to the Princess and ask her."