he, with
courteous firmness. "I shall do all in my power to remedy your loss by
this swindle, and to secure the perpetrators of it."

"Thank you, Detective Carter," bowed Pylotte, with a crafty display of
appreciation and humility.

"Meantime," added Nick, "you will please take no action in the case, but
leave it entirely to me."

"I will do so, sir."

"If you will leave me your city address, or call here again in a few
days, I shall have something to report to you."

"I will call the day after to-morrow, Detective Carter," said Pylotte,
promptly, too cunning to give Nick a fictitious address.

"Very well," said Nick. "Call in the evening. And now, Mr. Pylotte, we
will bid you good-morning, and get to work at once upon the case."

Pylotte bowed very agreeably, taking his artificial diamonds from the
table and replacing them in his pocket; and Nick then conducted him to
the door, again assuring him that no efforts in his behalf should be
spared.

Pylotte once more expressed his thanks, bowing and smiling as he
descended the steps, and Nick closed the door and returned to the
library.

"Well, Chick, the bag is open and the cat out," he cried, as he entered.

"Right you are, Nick."

"And a monstrous cat it is!"

"Never a larger one," declared Chick, with a laugh. "By Jove! Nick, if
Kilgore has really found a way to produce such perfect counterfeit
diamonds, his gang could work the greatest swindle ever known, unless
headed off."

"That is their game, all right," said Nick. "From the very first I have
suspected something extraordinary. They are not the stamp of criminals
to dicker with petty jobs."

"I should say not."

"Far from it."

"One thing is plain."

"Namely?"

"Where Cervera gets her diamonds, and of what they consist."

"True. She certainly is one of the gang."

"With such counterfeits as those worked upon Pylotte, and one big
jewelry concern to help market the goods, they could clean up millions
in a very short time."

"No doubt of it. And they have their jewelry concern, all right."

"Venner & Co.?"

"Surely."

"We must get absolute proof of it."

"That's just what I intend doing, now that we have the game uncovered,"
said Nick, grimly.

"And then proceed to locate the plant where the goods are made, eh?"

"Precisely."

"What are your plans?"

"We'll first get a line on Venner, and see to what it leads," replied
Nick. "There now is a way by which we can call the turn on