allowed to tell my story my own way, your Highness."

"What I complain of is that you are not telling any story at all, but
are asking instead a very impertinent question."

"Questions which seem to you irrelevant may be to a trained mind most--"

"Bosh! Trained donkeys! Do you know where the diamonds are?"

"Yes, I do," answered Cadbury Taylor, still imperturbable, in spite of
the provocation he was receiving.

"Well, where are they?"

"They are in the vaults of your bank in Vienna."

"I don't believe it. Who stole them then?"

"They were put there by her Highness the Princess von Steinheimer,
doubtless in security for money--"

"What!" roared the Prince, springing to his feet, his stentorian voice
ringing to the ceiling. "Do you mean to insinuate, you villain, that my
wife stole her own diamonds?"

"If your Highness would allow me to proceed in my own--"

"Enough of this fooling. There are the diamonds," cried the Prince,
jerking the box from his pocket and flinging it on the table.