he report is
correct since it relieves my mind on one point, at any rate. However,
there is one question more: Can you tell me how that substitution was
made?"

"Pebbles for diamonds?"

"Yes."

"To do so requires another story, which I cannot tell you to-night,"
replied the Sepoy. "How about to-morrow evening?"

"If that's the only way?" queried Raikes.

"It is," the Sepoy assured him.

"I will be here, then," said Raikes, "but I must leave you now; I will
see you at breakfast-time."

With this Raikes departed and made his way along the dim passages to his
room.

Arrived at this point, and taking his customary precautions for the night,
Raikes prepared to retire.

Since the process involved such little attention to detail in its almost
aboriginal readiness, it was not long before Raikes was tucked away in
his uneasy rest.

Possibly a half hour later a series of labored snores announced his
successful escape from the disturbing realities of the day and his
stentorian entrance upon more fictitious complications.

Just across the hallway, in the room occupied by his nephew, conditions
were more animated, for Robert, giving his admiring and somewhat
incredulous attention to the alert Gratz, sat with his eyes bright with
the acknowledgment of the purport of the speaker.

Just a trace of excitement appeared in the manner of the detective.

He had witnessed the return of the sleepy Raikes to his room, and was
relieved to be able to assure himself that the miser was altogether
unaware of his presence.

Gratz was about to provide himself with the confirmation of a theory
which he dared not discuss in advance.

The possibilities of failure were numerous enough to provide him with
the element of fascination, and its bizarre unfamiliarity piqued his
imagination.

If he was not mistaken in his calculations, he would be in possession,
before morning, of some interesting data which would make a startling
addition to the criminal records to which his past activities had
contributed.

The suggestion which stimulated him was the last which would occur to a
wholly sensible man and the first which would be likely to present
itself to a genius for speculation and morbid analysis.

Consequently silence upon these somewhat abstruse reasonings was his
safeguard against ridicule in the event of failure.

However, he had intimated to Robert that events would transpire during
the night which would be illuminative, but h