约翰叔叔和亚瑟商议了一番，决定暂时不将此事告诉几个女孩子，以免引起她们的恐慌。第二天清晨，琼斯向大家讲述了这些珍珠的来历。原来，它们都来自人迹罕至的桑荷阿岛。谈话间，一名警官和依西多尔来逮捕琼斯了。警官说目前有足够的证据证明琼斯就是偷窃珍珠的盗贼。琼斯真的会被警官带走吗？
Uncle John and Arthur decided not to mention to the girls this astounding charge of Isidore Le Drieux，fearing the news would make them nervous and disturb their rest，so when the men joined the merry party in the alcove they did not refer to their late interview.
Afterward，however，when all but Arthur Weldon hadgone to bed and he was sitting in Uncle John's room，the two discussed the matter together with much seriousness.
"We ought to do something，sir，"said Arthur."This Jonesis a mere boy，and in poor health at that.He has no friends，so far as we know，other than ourselves.Therefore it is our duty to see him through this trouble."Mr.Merrick nodded assenta.
"We cannot prevent the arrest，"he replied，"for Le Drieux will not listen to reason.If we aided Jones to run away he would soon be caught.Absurd as the charge is，the youngster must face it and prove his innocence."Arthur paced the floor in a way that indicated he was disturbed by this verdict.
"He ought to have no dif？culty in proving he is not Jack Andrews，"he remarked，reflectively；"and yet—those pearls are dif？cult to explain.Their similarity to the ones stolen in Europe fooled the expert，Le Drieux，and they are likely to fool a judge or jury.I hope Jones has some means of proving that he brought the pearls from Sangoa.That would settle thematter at once.""As soon as he is arrested we will get him a lawyer—the best in this country，"said Mr.Merrick."More than that we cannot do，but a good lawyer will know the proper method of freeing his client."T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e y w e r e u p e a r l y ，a w a i t i n g developments；but Le Drieux seemed in no hurry to move.He had breakfast at about nine o'clock，read his newspaper for a half hour or so，and then deliberately left the hotel.All of Mr.Merrick's party had breakfasted before this and soon afterLe Drieux had gone away young Jones appeared in the lobby.He was just in time to see the Stanton girls drive away in their automobile，accompanied by their Aunt Jane.
"The motion picture stars must be late to—day，"said theboy，looking after them.
"They are，"answered Patsy，standing beside him at the window；"but Maud says this happens to be one of their days of leisure.No picture is to be taken and they have only to rehearse a new play.But it's a busy life，seems to me，and it would really prove hard work if the girls didn't enjoy it so much.""Yes，"said he，"it's a fascinating profession.I understand，and nothing can be called work that is interesting.When we are obliged to do something that we do not like to do，it becomes 'work.'Otherwise，what is usually called 'work'is mere play，for it furnishes its quota of amusement."He was quite unconscious of any impending misfortune and when Beth and Louise joined Patsy in thanking him for his pretty gifts of the pearls he flushed with pleasure.Evidently their expressions of delight were very grateful to his ears.
Said Uncle John，in a casual way："Those are remarkably？ne pearls，to have come from such an island as Sangoa.""But we ？nd much better ones there，I assure you，"repliedthe boy."I have many in my room of much greater value，but did not dare ask you to accept them as gifts.""Do many pearls come from Sangoa，then？"asked Arthur.
"That is our one industry，"answered the young man."Many years ago my father discovered the pearl fisheriesa.It was after he had purchased the island，but he recognized the value of the pearls and brought a colony of people from America to settle at Sangoa and devote their time to pearl fishing.Once or twice every year we send a ship to market with a consignment of pearls to our agent，and—to be quite frank with you—that is why I am now able to build the picture theatres I have contracted for，as well as the ？lm factory.""I see，"said Uncle John."But tell me this，please：Why isSangoa so little known，or rather，so quite unknown？""My father，"Jones returned，"loved quiet and seclusionb.He was willing to develop the pearl fisheries，but objected to the ？ock of adventurers sure to descend uponc his island ifits wealth of pearls became generally known.His colony he selected with great care and with few exceptions they are a sturdy，wholesome lot，enjoying the peaceful life of Sangoa and thoroughly satisfied with their condition there.It is only within the last two years that our American agents knew where our pearls came from，yet they could not locate the island if they tried.I do not feel the same desire my father did to keep the secret，although I would dislike to see Sangoa overruna with tourists or traders."He spoke so quietly and at the same time so convincingly that both Arthur and Uncle John accepted his explanation unquestioningly.Nevertheless，in the embarrassing dilemma inwhich Jones would presently be involved，the story would besure to bear the stamp of unreality to any uninterested hearer.
The girls had now begun to chatter over the theatre plans，and their "financial backerb"—as Patsy Doyle called him—joined them with eager interest.Arthur sat at a near—by desk writing a letter；Uncle John glanced over the morning paper；Inez，the Mexican nurse，brought baby to Louise for a kiss before it went for a ride in its perambulator.
An hour had passed when Le Drieux entered the lobby in company with a thin—faced，sharp—eyed man in plain clothes.They walked directly toward the group that was seated by the open alcove window，and Arthur Weldon，observing them and knowing what was about to happen，rose from the writing—desk and drew himself tensely together as he followed them.Uncle John lowered his paper，frowned at Le Drieux and then turned his eyes upon the face of young Jones.
It was the thin—featured man who advanced and lightly touched the boy's arm.
"Beg pardon，sir，"said he，in even，unemotional tones.