a great deal of luck. Ordinarily
of course, two packs are used, but for some reason there was but one
that night, so that the bottom card would be the trump. Now it is pretty
well known, that as the cards run in whist, each trick containing four
of a suit mainly, it is a mathematical certainty that if the pack is
shuffled twice only, and the dealer is skilful enough to handle the pack
so that the two halves split each other exactly both times, the result
will be that the majority of trumps will go to himself and partner.
Cutting does not alter this fact at all. Now what I observed was, that
Thauret dealt in that way every time. He and his partner won about two
hundred dollars during the evening. I think he cheated."

"Who was his partner?"

"I do not know."

"Was Mr. Mitchel present that night?"

"Yes, and agreed with me that the man is a card sharp. Yet of course we
may be doing him an injustice. After all, we only know that he shuffled
his cards twice, and played in good luck. I have since seem him lose at
the same game."

"Well, I am much indebted to you, Mr. Randolph, for the information
which you have given me. I will say that if I can prove that your friend
had no hand in this affair I shall be most happy."

The detective arose and Mr. Randolph accepted the action as a hint that
he was dismissed. After his departure Mr. Barnes sat down again. In his
mind he wondered whether this partner in the card game might have been
the accomplice of Thauret in the jewel robbery, and whether he was the
man who left the jewels in the hotel at New Haven. Why he should have
done so however, was a mystery.

A few minutes later Mr. Barnes left the building, and walked rapidly
towards Third Avenue, where he took the elevated road, getting out at
Seventy-sixth Street. Going eastward a few houses he rang the bell of
one, and was shown into a modestly-furnished parlor. A few minutes later
a comely young woman of about twenty-four or five entered. The two
talked together in low tones for some time, and then the girl left the
room returning in street attire. Together they left the house.

Four days later, Mr. Barnes received a note which simply said, "Come
up." He seemed to understand it, however, and was quickly on his way to
the house on Seventy-sixth Street. Once more the girl joined him in the
parlor.

"Well," said Mr. Barnes, "have you succeeded?"

"Why, of course," replied the girl. "You never knew me to make a
failure,