ly and left the
room. Mr. Wynne's last suggestion awakened a new train of thought
in the police official's mind, and he considered it silently for a
moment. Finally he shook his head.

"The fact remains," he said, as if reassuring himself, "that Haney
described an accomplice, that that description fits Czenki perfectly,
that Czenki has refused to defend himself or even make a denial; that
he has drawn suspicion upon himself by everything he has done and
said since he has been here, even by the strange manner of his
appearance at this house. Therefore, there were more diamonds, and
he got his share of them."

"Hello!" came in Mr. Birnes' voice from the hall. "Give me 21845
River, New York. . . . Yes. . . . Is Mr. Latham there? . . . Yes,
Henry Latham . . . ."

Again Mr. Wynne's self-possession forsook him, and he came to his
feet, evidently with the intention of interrupting that conversation.
He started forward, with gritting teeth, and simultaneously Chief
Arkwright, Detective-Sergeant Connelly and Mr. Czenki laid
restraining hands upon him. Something in the expert's grip on his
wrist caused him to stop and cease a futile struggle; then came a
singular expression of resignation about the mouth and he sat down
again.

"Hello! This Mr. Latham! . . . . This is Detective Birnes. . . .
I've been able to locate some diamonds, but it's necessary to know
something of the quantity of those you mentioned. You remember Mr.
Schultze said something about . . . . Yes. . . . Yes. . . . Oh, there
_were?_ . . Unexpected developments, yes. . . . I'll call and see
you to-night about eight. . . . Yes. . . . Good-by!"

Mr. Birnes reentered the room, his face aglow with triumph. Mr.
Wynne glanced almost hopelessly at Mr. Czenki, then turned again to
the detective.

"I should say there _were_ more than sixty thousand dollars' worth of
them," Mr. Birnes blurted. "There were at least a million dollars'
worth. Mr. Schultze intimated as much to me; now Mr. Latham confirms
it."

Chief Arkwright turned and glared scowlingly upon the diamond expert.
The beady black eyes were alight with some emotion which he failed to
read.

"Where are they, Czenki?" demanded the chief harshly.

"I have nothing to say," replied Mr. Czenki softly.

"So your disappearance Friday night, and your absence all day
yesterday did have to do with this old man's death?" said the chief,
directly accusing him.

"I have nothing to say," murmured Mr.