Rich colour came into her face, and, as the keen detective cast a swift glance at her, he saw before him a woman conscious of her guilt, fearing exposure, yet not knowing how to avert it.
"If your Highness will excuse my persistence," began Mr.Taylor blandly.
"But I will not," interrupted the Prince gruffly.

"Go on with your story without so much circumlocution." The detective, apparently unruffled by the discourtesy he met, bowed profoundly towards the Prince, cleared his throat, and began.
"May I ask your Highness," he said, addressing himself to the Princess, "how much money you possessed just before you left Vienna ?" The lady looked up at him in surprise, but did not answer.
"In Heaven's name, what has that to do with the loss of the diamonds ?" rapped out the Prince, his hot temper getting once more the better of him.

Cadbury Taylor spread out his hands and shrugged his shoulders in protest at the interruption.

He spoke with deference, but nevertheless there was a touch of reproach in his tone.
"I am accustomed to being listened to with patience, and am generally 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.