In a few moments the two men were driving rapidly toward the physician’s residence, while they more fully discussed the affair of the robbery, and the skillful way in which it had been managed.

“I would never have believed that a woman could have nerve enough to attempt anything so daring,” Mr. Palmer remarked.  “I should have been willing to take my oath that she—­this Mrs. Vanderbeck, so called—­was just what she pretended to be—­a refined and cultured lady accustomed to the most polished society.  She did not overdo her part in the least, and had one of the most frank and beautiful faces that I have ever seen.  Her figure and carriage were superb, her manner charming.  The only peculiar thing about her was her hair, which was a decided red, as were also her eyebrows, and lashes.  She had fine teeth, and she was very richly, though modestly, dressed.  She came to the store apparently in her own carriage, with a colored driver, and everything seemed to indicate that she belonged in the ranks of high life.”

“The woman who came to me, to make arrangements for the treatment of her pretended son, was a much older woman than you describe,” Doctor Wesselhoff said, in reply, “her hair was almost white, her face was somewhat wrinkled, and she appeared sad and depressed.  It must be that there were two women concerned in the affair, for my visitor remarked that since her son, when under the influence of his mania, was so determined to have her arrested, she would send her sister, whom she called Mrs. Vanderbeck, with him.”

“Hum—­maybe my adventuress was the same person in disguise,” Mr. Palmer thoughtfully observed.

“But you said she had red hair, brows, and lashes, and was quite young in appearance; while Mrs. Walton was old and wrinkled, with white hair; the brows and lashes I did not notice particularly, but they certainly were not red,” Doctor Wesselhoff responded, doubtfully.

“Well, whether they were one and the same or not, the whole thing is a perplexing puzzle, and I would sacrifice a good deal to have it solved,” said Mr. Palmer.  “But,” he added, with a sigh, “I am afraid that it never will be, for the thieves, in all probability, left New York immediately, and were sharp enough to remove the diamonds from their settings before attempting to dispose of them.”

“They may overreach themselves yet and be brought to justice,” Doctor Wesselhoff remarked.  “But is there no way of identifying the diamonds unset?”

“Some of them—­two in particular—­could be identified; they were a pair of magnificent solitaires, and I am sure my expert could tell them anywhere,” Mr. Palmer replied.

“It is strange that you were not suspicious of a person who wished to purchase so many diamonds at one time,” said the physician, thoughtfully.

“She did not pretend that she wished to buy all that she laid out, only that her selections from the lot were to be made with the advice and sanction of her husband; and in this way—­don’t you see?—­the clever sharper got possession of a great deal more than she would otherwise have done.”