tive
Carter, Senora Cervera is an arrant spendthrift."

"So I have heard," nodded Nick.

"You have?"

"Oh, yes!" laughed the detective. "That appears to surprise you. It
will not, when I tell you that there are very few public characters in
New York of whose general habits I am not tolerably well informed. Of
course, Mr. Venner, you have no doubt of this Spanish dancer's honesty?"
Nick added, bluntly.

Venner flushed deeply, and instantly shook his head.

"Most assuredly not," he cried, with some feeling. "Senora Cervera
dishonest? Impossible!"

"Improbable, Mr. Venner, no doubt; but not impossible."

"It is, sir," declared Venner, positively. "I know her well. Such an
idea is absurd. Drop it at once, Detective Carter. Indeed, sir, if I
thought her name was to be dragged into this affair, or her reputation
to be in any way imperiled, I would quietly suffer the loss of these
diamonds, and cease this investigation at once."

Nick laughed softly, and suppressed the response that, nearly rose to
his lips.

"Don't do it, Mr. Venner," said he, complacently. "My observation was
not intended to cast any reflection upon Senora Cervera. I have no doubt
that she is perfectly honest."

"I should hope not, sir."

"By the way, have you the note she sent to you this morning?"

"Yes. Here it is."

"By mail, or a messenger?"

"A messenger brought it."

"Ah!" murmured Nick, briefly studying the written page. "Plainly a
foreign hand. Very firm and forceful. It indicates a strong and
determined character. I should say that Senora Cervera is a woman of
rare qualities."

"That is perfectly correct, sir. She is a woman of rare qualities."

"What did she decide to do about the diamonds, Mr. Venner?"

"She gave me an order for the cross, Detective Carter, to be made and
delivered as soon as possible."

"This was during your call upon her this morning?"

"Certainly."

"You had previously sent no order to Hafferman for the stones?"

"Surely not."

"Yet a written order was received by him, or he would not have delivered
the goods."

"In which case, then, it was a forgery."

"No doubt of it," Nick readily admitted. "Chick."

"Yes, Nick."

"Take a carriage and go at once and interview Hafferman. See what you
can learn from him. Get the written order received by him, and bring it
here. Have a look at young Boyden, and see what you make of him. Also
get the written signature of Mr. Hafferman, and that of each pers