"Certainly, it seems a big thing.

You're figuring on its having been a carefully concocted scheme?
No mere chance affair, eh ?" "This sort of thing's never done by chance," responded the American.
"This is the work of very clever and accomplished thieves who somehow became aware of two facts.

One, that your cousin was bringing with him to England the jewels of the Princess Nastirsevitch.

The other, that Mademoiselle Zelie de Longarde carried her pearls and diamonds in an innocent-looking rosewood box.

My dear sir! you observed that I examined that box with seeming carelessness--in reality, I was looking at it with the eye of a trained observer.