I gathered, however, that they were worth a large sum of money--perhaps, even a million dollars ?" "Yah, a million dollars ad leasd," remarked Mr.Schultze grimly.
"Thank you," and the detective smiled shrewdly.

"Your instructions were to find where he got them.

If there had been a theft of a million dollars' worth of diamonds anywhere in this world, I would have known it; so I took steps to examine the Custom House records of this and other cities to see if there had been an unusual shipment to Mr.Wynne, or to any one else outside of the diamond dealers, thinking this might give me a clew." "And what was the result ?" demanded Mr.Latham quickly.
"My agents have covered all the Atlantic ports and they did not come in through the Custom House," replied Mr.Birnes.

"I have not heard from the western agents as yet, but my opinion is--is that they were perhaps smuggled in.

Smuggling, after all, is simple with the thousands of miles of unguarded coasts of this country.