he office."

"It's very important that I see him--about my stolen necklace, you
know."

A feeling of relief surged over Penny. "Father should be arriving any
moment now. Would you care to wait?"

"Yes, I believe I will."

Mrs. Dillon sank wearily into the chair which the girl offered. "I've
had such a dreadful day. My beautiful necklace was stolen and the
police haven't been able to find a trace of the thief. But then, you
know all about it, for you were there."

"Perhaps the pearls will still be recovered," Penny said politely.

"That's what Mr. Cron tells me. He says it's foolish of me to worry.
The police are certain to find them within a few days."

"Your loss was covered by insurance?" Penny inquired innocently.

"Oh, no! That's the dreadful part."

Penny looked sharply at Mrs. Dillon. The woman seemed so earnest that
it was difficult to believe she was deliberately telling a falsehood.
Yet the incident of the painting already had given the girl a clue as
to Mrs. Dillon's character. If the woman knowingly would purchase a
stolen picture was it not reasonable to suppose that she would feel no
qualms at cheating an insurance company?

In the hope of gaining a little information, Penny casually brought up
the subject of the Rembrandt, but Mrs. Dillon immediately became
secretive. She would not talk of the picture even in a general way.

"I'll never learn anything except by making a direct accusation," Penny
thought. "I don't dare do that--yet."

She was relieved when her father came a few minutes later.

"I'm sorry to bother you at your home," Mrs. Dillon began nervously,
"but I had to see you at once. My pearl necklace was stolen this
afternoon."

"Yes, so I heard," Mr. Nichols replied.

"I want you to take the case. You must help me recover my pearls."

"I am afraid I can't take the case, Mrs. Dillon."

"But why not? You've helped others. Everyone says you are the best
detective in the city. And I'll pay you well."

"It isn't a matter of money, Mrs. Dillon. To tell you the truth, the
Reliance Insurance Company also requested me to work on the case."

"The Reliance Insurance Company? I don't understand. What have they
to do with it?"

"Your necklace was insured with them, I believe," Mr. Nichols said
evenly.

"Oh, no!"

"For fifteen thousand dollars."

"Certainly not," Mrs. Dillon replied indignantly. "Are you suggesting
that I would lie about the matter?"

"I thoug