“Well, that’s it then,” said Derkins, watching as the mangled remains of the safe were hauled on deck and swarmed by police. “Whoever it was that wanted the jewel, they’ve got it.”

“Tell me,” Inspector Sloss said. “Are you familiar with the Cullinan Diamond, Derkins?”

“Sounds like you’re going to tell me whether I have or not.”

“The Cullinan,” said Sloss, “was the largest clear diamond ever found; anything bigger was fit only to use in a drill bit. Fantastic stone, 3000 karats, sparkled like a rainbow due to impurities. You know how they got it from South Africa to London?”

“A safe like that?” Derkins said, nodding at the abused steel on deck.

“They loaded a safe onto a steamer, guarded by private detectives. And then they sent the real diamond through the registered mail in a plain brown box. When the time came to send it to Amsterdam to be cut, they loaded an empty safe onto a battleship.”

“How did they get the real stone there, then?” said Derkins.

Sloss patted his waistcoat pocket. “How indeed.”

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