d was La Croix, asking:

"Well, how did you make out in Toronto, Clara?"

"All right," the girl replied. "I found your four spies there. They report
that the Custom House inspectors at Niagara Falls are on the alert. There
has been a shaking up of the department. The Collector of the Port of New
York is dissatisfied with the amount of smuggling that is being carried on,
and made it very hot for everybody."

"That ees bad for us."

"Very. We'll either have to keep shady a while or play a trick on them to
pass the diamonds I brought over from Holland. As there are $250,000 worth
of the gems, you can't afford to have them seized for duty and run chances
on going to prison for the job, papa."

"That ees a fact. It would ruin me. I'll have to think of some--vat you
call--plan to beat ze Custom House."

"I've got some bad news for you, too."

"Vat ees zat?" asked La Croix, nervously.

"The Bradys are in Toronto looking for you."

The smuggler started as if he were stung and turned deathly pale.

A look of blank dismay settled upon his sallow face, his dark eyes sparkled
angrily and he exclaimed:

"_Parbleu!_ I thought zey was done for!"

"You told me how you had shipped them in a box."

"Zen zey have escape, eh?"

"So it seems. One of your men discovered them. Before I came here, I met
Old King Brady in the street and warned him of the danger of following you
up. He refused to quit."

"Zat man ees a demon! I weel keel heem yet!" raved La Croix.

"Look out he don't kill you," replied his daughter.

"What wiz him deed you do?"

"Left him in Toronto."

"An' he not know we ees here?"

"No. I'm sure he don't."

"But eet puzzle me to know how he learn we ees in Canada."

"He may have had some method of finding out those things."

"I wondair how from ze box zey escape?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

"Where ees ze four men?"

"Gone down to the steamship dock for my trunk."

"Zen zey come back here soon, eh?"

"Yes. I presumed you wished to consult with them and therefore ordered them
to report here to you."

"So I do. Ve must vatch for ze detectives ver' sharp now."

"Where is mother?"

"Een my room."

"I'll go in and see her. I'm going to get rid of these uncomfortable
widow's weeds. They were all very well as a disguise in which to travel in
Europe and come back here, but I am heartily sick of wearing them. They
make me feel so old."

"Suit yourself, my dear."

The girl then left her room