"I realize that，your honor；but my client deems it wise to keep the location of his island a secret，because he has valuable pearl ？sheries on its shores.The pearls exhibited by the prosecution were all found at Sangoa.""How do you account，then，for their checking soaccurately against the list of stolen pearls ？""I can make almost any pearls check with that list，which represents a huge collection of almost every size，weight and color，"replied Colby."To prove this，I will introduce in evidence Captain Carg of Sangoa，who recently arrived at Santa Monica Bay with the last proceeds of the pearl ？sheries of the island."Captain Carg was on hand，with his two sailors guarding the chest.He now produced the trays of pearls and spread them on the desk before the amazed eyes of the judge.Le Drieux was astounded，and showed it plainly on his face.
Colby now borrowed the list，and picking up a pearlfrom the tray weighed it on Le Drieux's scales and then found a parallel to it on the list.This he did with several of the pearls，chosen at random，until one of Le Drieux's attorneys took the expert aside and whispered to him.Then Le Drieux'sexpression changed from chagrin to joy and coming forward he exclaimed：
"Your honor，this is the collection—the balance of it—which was stolen from the Countess Ahmberg ！"The judge looked at him a moment，leaned back in his chair and nodded his head impressively.
"What nonsense ！"protested Colby."These trays containtwice the number of pearls included in that entire list，as your honor may plainly see.""Of course，"retorted Le Drieux eagerly；"here arealso the pearls from the necklace of Princess Lemoine，and the London collection of Lady Grandison.Your honor，in his audacity the defense has furnished us proof positive that this prisoner can be none other than the adventurer and clever thief，Jack Andrews."It was in vain that Colby declared these pearls had just come from Sangoa，where they were found.The judge cut him short and asked if he had any other evidence to advance.
"These pearls，"he added，indicating the trays，"I shalltake possession of.They must remain in my custodya until their owners claim them，or Captain Carg can prove they are the lawful property of the prisoner."Consternation now pervaded the ranks of the defense.The girls were absolutely dismayed，while Uncle John and Arthur Weldon wore bewildered looks.Only Jones remainedcomposed，an amused smile curling the corners of his delicate mouth as he eyed the judge who was to decide his fate.
On the side of the prosecution were looks of triumph.Le Drieux already regarded his case as won.
Colby now played his trump card，which Maud Stanton'slogic and energy had supplied the defense.
"The prosecution，"said he，"has stated that the alleged robbery was committed at Vienna on the evening of September fifteenth，and that Jack Andrews arrived in America on the steamship Princess Irene on the afternoon of the January twenty—seventh following.Am I correct in those dates ？"The judge consulted his stenographer.
"The dates mentioned are correct，"he said pompously."Here are the papers issued by the Commander of the Portof San Francisco，proving that the yacht Arabella of Sangoaanchored in that harbor on October twelfth，and disembarkeda one passenger，namely：A.Jones of Sangoa.""That might，or might not，have been the prisoner，"declared the prosecuting attorney.