“I hope you're satisfied,” he said to Nick. “You know perfectly well that I have had no opportunity to dispose of it. There wasn't much chance in that vault.”
Nick laughed.
“I should say not,” he replied. “I'm afraid we shall have to fall back upon the theory of the colonel.”
“No theory,” cried he; “but the living truth, and now proven before you both. But let me ask, Mr. Carter, why you suspected my nephew of taking the clasp.”
“I didn't,” replied Nick promptly. “I searched him in order to remove every possibility.”
“Surely he would have no motive for such an action.”
“None that I can see,” said Nick, with perfect sincerity.
They proceeded at once to Mrs. Stevens' house.
It was about seven o'clock when they arrived.
They drove up from the station, and on the way picked up Patsy.
During the remainder of the drive, he was busy communicating with Nick in their sign language.
“Miss Stevens is in her room,” said Patsy. “She has had a doctor with her almost all the time. He refuses to say anything. I believe, upon my soul, that I shot her last night.”
Annie O'Neil, the servant, answered the bell.
She ushered them into the parlor, and said that Mrs. Stevens was in the room of her daughter who was quite ill.
Annie went upstairs to summon her mistress.
A minute later the party below heard a scream.
Then Mrs. Stevens appeared. She was very pale.
In her hand she held a small object wrapped in paper.
“I have just found this upon my daughter's pillow,” she said. “I have not removed the paper, but I know instinctively what is within. It is another jewel.”
“I am equally sure of it,” cried the colonel. “Open the package, Mrs. Stevens.”
“My hand trembles so,” the lady began.
“Don't open it now,” said Nick, “wait a moment. I have a suggestion to make. And, at any rate, we all know what is within.
“Colonel Richmond. I suppose it is useless to plead with you further?”
“Quite useless,” said the colonel. “Millie shall have all the jewels. I am determined to buy them of my daughter, and make the transfer at once.”
“Well, I am beaten,” said the detective. “The case has gone against me. But I will still try to help you. I wish to call your attention to the legal aspects of this case.
“They may surprise you, but, before, going further, I think you should know them. You will not accept my authority, if I state the facts as they are.
“Mrs. Stevens, is it not true that you have one of the judges of the Supreme Court as your neighbor?”
“Yes; Judge Lorrimer is our next neighbor on the south.”
“Will you kindly send your servant to his house, or perhaps—”
He glanced at Horace.
“All right, I'll go,” said Horace. “I know the judge. But I don't see what you are driving at, Mr. Carter.”
“I want to persuade Colonel Richmond to get the law in the case before he goes further. He should consult an authority about this transfer before he makes any more promises which may or may not be legally good.”
“I think it a good idea,” said Colonel Richmond. “Horace, go over to the judge's house.”
During the interval while he was gone very little was done. Mrs. Stevens sat holding the package, and apparently deeply moved.
She several times declared to Colonel Richmond that she did not wish her daughter to get the jewels in such a way, and that she was still convinced that human beings had planned and executed the whole strange series of robberies and surprises.
“If it should prove,” said Nick, “that this is a conspiracy, do you wish any arrests?”
He turned toward the colonel as he spoke.
“If it does,” said the colonel, with a smile, “you can arrest me. It won't.”
“But I am serious.”
“So am I. Of course, if there had been a crime I would not shield the guilty parties, whoever they might be.”
At that moment Horace returned with Judge Lorrimer, whom he had met walking just beyond Mrs.
