“She is, yes.”

“I have heard that she makes a great display of diamonds.”

“That is true, Mr. Carter.  She possesses a magnificent collection of jewels, and wears them with an abandon against which I frequently have cautioned her.”

“By way of explanation,” put in Mr. Garside, with an odd smile, “Venner might add that he enjoys quite friendly relations with the Spanish senora.”

“I see no occasion, Garside, for comments upon my interest in Sanetta Cervera,” declared Venner, with a frown at his partner.  “My relations with her, Detective Carter, are only those of a friend and a gentleman.  She called here several weeks ago to have some diamonds reset, when I met her personally, and was deeply impressed with her extraordinary grace and beauty.  I since have shown her some attention.”

“Quite natural, I am sure,” observed Nick, smiling indifferently.  “As you remarked, however, none of that appears to be material.  I understand, Mr. Venner, that you were absent when Boyden brought the diamonds here this morning.”

“I was,” bowed Venner.  “I received a note from Senora Cervera this morning, asking me to call upon her at eleven o’clock at her rooms, and to bring with me a diamond pendant which we have in stock, and which I had the pleasure of showing her a few days ago.”

“Ah, I see.”

“She stated in her note that if I would call upon her at the hour mentioned, she would decide whether to purchase the pendant, or have us make the diamond cross for her.”

“You complied with her request, Mr. Venner, and went to call upon her?”

“Certainly.”

“Where is she quartered?”

“She rents a furnished house uptown.”

“Does she live alone?”

“With her servants only.”

“How many?”

“She keeps a butler, a male cook, and two housemaids.  Also a girl to look after her wardrobe and act as her dresser at the theater.”

“Evidently Senora Cervera is wealthy,” said Nick.

“Well, not exactly wealthy,” rejoined Venner.  “She is the popular craze just now, and from her professional work she derives a very large income which she scatters as if dollars were dead leaves.  In a word, Detective 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.”