m.

Nick was still examining the diamonds.

He stood near the table, at a point midway between the two open doors.
He had selected this position for a very good reason. He was inviting
capture and removal, which he knew must be preceded by an assault; and
he therefore laid himself open from either side, aiming to be put down
and out with as little violence as possible.

He wanted all his resources for what he knew was very likely to follow.

Nick was quite as anxious as the gang to force matters, moreover; for at
the end of ten minutes, in case he did not return to the carriage, Chick
was to begin getting in his work.

Therefore the climax came quickly.

Six minutes had already passed.

"Well, sir, what do you think of them?" cried Venner, as he returned to
the room.

"The diamonds?" queried Nick, tossing several of them back upon the
table.

"Certainly. What else?"

"They are all right, Mr. Venner."

"I thought you would say so."

"Yes, indeed. They are all right--for what they are!"

"For what they are?"

"Precisely."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know what I mean."

"I do?" snarled Venner, inquiringly, with his frowning eyes shrinking
from Nick's steadfast gaze.

"Certainly you do," declared Nick. "These diamonds are imitations, not
natural stones. They are the most perfect and marvelous artificial
diamonds ever made.

"Artificial!" cried Venner, now drawing back. "You are mad, sir! Why,
man, you are away off the track!"

"Oh, no, I'm not."

"You are!"

"Not off the track at all, but very squarely on it," Nick now retorted,
speaking in his own sternly resonant tones. "Hark you, Venner, I am the
one to ask the meaning of this, not you!"

Venner's hand went stealing toward his hip pocket.

"So you are showing your true colors, are you?" he cried, with
threatening significance. "By Heaven, you are no Hindoo!"

"That's right, Venner, I am not," said Nick, quickly throwing off the
loose robe that hid his own apparel, fearing it might impede his
movements. "I am no Hindoo, but am--"

"Nick Carter!"

"Exactly!"

"So this is your game, is it?" Venner fiercely began. "If you think--"

"Stop right there, Venner," Nick sternly commanded. "Speaking of games,
I am here to discover what sort of a rascally game you and this Kilgore
gang are playing. I have learned enough to show me that you are a knave
and a--"

"By heavens, Carter--"

"Stop!" thundered Nick. "Don't pull a gun! If y