Nick Carter sat and waited, silently sizing up the case as he then saw it.

Just as Venner returned with the numerous signatures, Chick also put in an appearance again, bringing with him the forged order which had been left at Hafferman’s store.  Nick merely glanced at it, then thrust it into his pocket.

“Did you see Boyden?” he inquired of Chick.

“Yes, and spoke with him,” nodded Chick.

“What about him?”

“He looks all right.”

“Did you get the signatures of Hafferman and his clerks?”

“They are on this paper.”

“Good enough.  Let me have those of your employees, Mr. Venner.  Are they all here?”

“Yes, all of them.”

“Very good,” said Nick, putting the several papers into his pocket.  “Now, Chick, what of the man who visited Hafferman’s store with the forged order?”

“He merely left the order and asked that the diamonds should be sent here at once.”

“What sort of a man?”

“Dark, about fifty, with a heavy mustache and wavy hair,” said Chick, glibly.  “Quite a big fellow, Hafferman states.”

“H’m!” ejaculated Nick, with a significant nod.  “Now, Mr. Garside, describe the man to whom you delivered the diamonds.”

“Raymond?”

“If that is the name he gave you.”

“He is a well-built, smoothly shaven fellow, of about thirty years, with a sallow complexion, slightly pock-marked—­”

“Ah, I thought so!” Nick curtly interrupted.  “That’s quite sufficient, Mr. Garside.”

“What do you mean, Carter?” quickly demanded Venner.  “Do you already recognize these criminals?”

“I recognize their work.”

“And the men?”

“I’ve them in mind from the outset.”

“Impossible!”

“Not so, Mr. Venner,” Nick now declared, with emphasis.  “Without a shadow of doubt, sir, you have been victimized by the notorious Kilgore diamond gang, a trio of the shrewdest and most daring scoundrels that ever stood in leather.”

“You amaze me.”

“Do I?” inquired Nick, smiling softly.  “Well, sir, if I were to tell you the history of these rascals, you would be more than amazed—­you would be astounded.  No crime is too desperate, no knavery too hazardous, no villainy too despicable, for them to attempt, and too often successfully execute.  They have perpetrated their crimes over two continents, and are known to the police the world over.”

“That is not very complimentary to the police,” said Venner, dryly.  “I marvel that such distinguished scoundrels are still at large.”

“A fact which stamps them no ordinary criminals,” replied Nick, pointedly.  “Nor are they, sir.”

“What do you know of them, Detective Carter?”

“David Kilgore, the chief of the gang, is one of the shrewdest and most daring of knaves, a man of splendid education, polished manners and broad experience.  He possesses nerves of steel, the cunning of a fox, and would not shrink even from murder, if his designs required it.  Yet he invariably covers his tracks so cleverly, or so quickly vanishes when hard pressed, that thus far he has successfully eluded the police.  That’s David Kilgore, sir.”