“As I was saying,” he went on, “Mrs. Goldman has all the advantages of his wealth and position but she doesn’t actually have to put up with him. I’m sure you’ve noticed he is not the easiest of men. I’ve been told he likes his own way all the time. He flies into temper tantrums if he’s crossed. Like an overgrown two-year-old. But then men like him have what it takes to succeed. I don’t know if he’s told you his life history yet. He’s very proud of it. He came to America as a young man at the turn of the century, after his village in Russia was burned to the ground. He came with nothing, did any job he could lay his hands on, met Thomas Edison, saved up and bought his own movie camera, then moved out West and started shooting pictures. Now he owns one of the most successful studios in the world. He can afford to be difficult.”

“So he would also have been present on each of the occasions that a burglary took place?” I asked.

Darcy grinned. “I can’t see him climbing through a window or up a drainpipe, can you? And burglary is not in his nature. I’m sure he has ruined plenty of men. I’m sure he could kill with his bare hands, but nothing sneaky. Everything he does is larger than life.”

“You say the thief attempted to rob the princess in Paris. Why did that not succeed? Was the thief seen?”

“No, unfortunately. The princess had a visitor who had brought her little dog. The dog started yapping and they found the bathroom window had been forced open. The burglar must have come around the side of the building on a ledge. I tell you, the chap has nerves of steel, I’ll grant him that.”

“So what are you going to do now?” I asked.

“Search passengers when they disembark, but I suspect it’s easy to hide a precious stone. Apart from that we can only hope that the thief is encouraged to strike again.”

“Encouraged, how?”

Darcy gave me a long look. “I thought we might use you as bait.”

“Oh, I say. Steady on,” the captain interrupted. “You can’t do a thing like that.”

“Me? I’m known to be penniless. I have nothing worth stealing.”

“You are related to the richest people in England. What if you let slip that Queen Mary has given you a special piece of jewelry, a rare old family piece and you really should have left it in the bank, but it’s so pretty that you wanted to bring it with you?”

“And you think the gentleman thief will believe that? Having never seen me wear anything more startling than a strand of garnets or pearls?”

“It’s worth a try. The royal connection might be irresistible.”

“But shouldn’t I be flashing this piece around?”