"I left that pin with the
two others like it in my room."

Without saying another word, she turned and ran into the house.

Almost immediately her voice was heard in the hall.

"It's gone!" she cried. "It's been taken out of my bedroom."

She appeared at the door with a very white face.

But her excitement was nothing to that of Mrs. Stevens.

Nick dropped the role of detective and assumed that of doctor in less
than a second.

When he had saved Mrs. Stevens from an attack of hysterics, he said:

"I was aware that that pin had been taken. It was done while I was in
your room, Mrs. Pond. The circumstances were exactly the same as those
attending the other robberies."

"But I did not put it in the box," exclaimed Mrs. Stevens. "It was not
among the jewels which I found."

She turned to Colonel Richmond. Her face was ghastly pale.

"I have scorned your belief," she said; "but now I am convinced. No
mortal being could have done this thing."

"What do you say to that, Mr. Carter?" cried the colonel, with flashing
eyes.

"I would like to ask a few questions," rejoined Nick. "Were you alone
when you put those jewels into the box?"

"I was."

"Has it been in your possession ever since?"

"It has not been out of my care."

"Did you tell anybody about the finding of the jewels?"

"Nobody."

"Please describe everything that happened after you found them."

"I was, of course, greatly agitated. I did not know what to do. For some
time I sat staring at the jewels and trying to think what was my proper
course.

"At last I took this box from a drawer of my dressing-table and put the
jewels into it.

"Then I called to the servant who was in the dining-room, and asked her
to see that the carriage was got ready, for though it is a long drive, I
had resolved to make it, because I felt safer in that way."

"Did you go out of your room to call the girl?"

"Only into the hall."

"Who could have got into your room while you were out?"

"Nobody."

"Where was your daughter?"

"In her own room."

"How do you know?"

"I called to her after I had dressed, and she answered me. I told her
that I was going to drive over here, and she was very much surprised. I
did not tell her why."

"Did you meet anybody on the way over who spoke to you or came to the
side of the carriage?"

"Nobody."

"That is all I wish to ask."

In fact, Nick had no more questions. He was really at a loss for an
explanation of this s