“Since we suspect he can shin up drainpipes, cross ledges, open windows and perform various other athletic feats, it would have to be an exceptionally strong and agile woman. Also if it was one of the guests at various house parties, as we suspect it might be, a woman would be hampered by what she wore.”

“And you have reason to think he’s on this ship?”

Darcy nodded. “Two reasons, actually. We know an attempt was made to steal the princess’s jewels once before in Paris. And we know that Stella Brightwell is on this ship.”

“Stella? You think she might be involved in this?”

Darcy leaned closer to me, his hand on my shoulder now squeezing tighter. “This is not to go beyond this room, Georgie, but the only thing that links the burglaries is that Stella Brightwell was present at each of the gatherings.”

“Golly,” I said, forgetting to be sophisticated. “You can’t think she’s the cat burglar. Why would she need to be? She’s a film star. She’s rich.”

“Stranger things have happened before now,” Darcy said. “Some people turn to crime for the excitement, even when they don’t need money. However she has a watertight alibi for each of the robberies. When the crime was committed she was with a group of people, playing bridge, sitting at a dinner table, or in bed with Cy Goldman . . . all occasions on which it would have been noticed if she had left the room.”

“So it is true then,” I said. “She’s Cy Goldman’s mistress? I thought they seemed awfully chummy.”

Darcy nodded.

“But doesn’t he have a wife? I’m sure she was mentioned.”

“He does,” Darcy said. “Mrs. Goldman spends most of the year in their penthouse in New York. She doesn’t like the West Coast, apparently.”

“And she doesn’t want to divorce him for carrying on with other women?”

“Some people find divorce is too tiresome,” Darcy said. “And the current situation probably suits her just fine. She has all the advantages of being Mrs. Goldman. . . .”

“Except one,” First Officer Higgins commented.

I looked up and went bright red. Darcy grinned.