“It becomes a mystery that I don’t quite fancy,” declared Nick, with a significant nod.  “In fact, Chick, I’m not at all favorably impressed with this robbery.  To me it has a mighty fishy look.”

“Why so, Nick?”

“It is not like this Kilgore gang, mark you, to have been dickering with a dirty little job of this kind, netting them only a few thousands at the best; yet a job in which they incurred as much danger of detection, Chick, as in one infinitely greater.”

“By Jove! that’s so.  There’s no getting away from that argument, Nick.”

“Instead of trying to get away from it, Chick, I’m going to stay with it,” continued Nick, with emphasis.  “I am beginning to suspect that this paltry little robbery may in some way make a far deeper and darker game.  At all events, Chick, we’ll not wind ourselves in a search for those diamonds, at least not before we have sifted these side issues a little finer.”

“Good enough!” cried Chick, heartily.  “I agree with you on every point.  Only your long head, Nick, old man, could have deduced such shrewd conclusions; and I believe, by Jove! that you have hit the nail on the head.”

“If I have,” rejoined Nick, grimly, “we’ll drive the nail home a little later, and home to stay.”

“That we will.”

“There remains one other feature of the case,” added Nick, “and, starting from that, we will begin work upon the affair this very night.”

“You refer to that Spanish dancer, Cervera?”

“Precisely.”

“And the fact that she requested Venner to call at her house this morning?”

“Exactly,” nodded Nick.  “She fixed the hour, mind you, probably knowing that Venner would comply with her request.  Hence there exists a possibility that she designed to get him away from his store at just that time, in order that the robbery could be successfully executed.”

“In which case, Nick, we necessarily must figure her in with the Kilgore gang, despite Venner’s declaration of her honesty.”

“Certainly we must, Chick, in case her note to Venner was written for the purpose mentioned,” nodded Nick.  “Of that, however, we have no positive evidence.  It may have been purely accidental that her note was sent to-day, and mentioned the very hour when the theft was committed.  Obviously, in that case, the thief outside was waiting for some opportunity when Venner should be away from his store.  Cervera would then be out of the affair, as far as any criminal intent is concerned.”

“Very probably.”

“So there you are!” exclaimed Nick, with another glance at the clock.  “Our half hour is up.  You now have my measure of the case, and next we will get down to business.  We will drop this fishy-looking robbery for the present, Chick, and first of all make a move to learn something about Senora Cervera, and her relations with Rufus Venner.”

“A good scheme, Nick, and I’m with you.”