Nick Carter’s first step was a visit to the house in Thirty-fifth Street, where he found Mr. Herron awaiting him. “Since my return, I have carefully figured the value of the articles taken from the house,” he said to Nick. “All of the jewelry left in the safe in my wife’s room is missing. The value of that is about five thousand dollars. All of the plate that was genuine silver has also been taken. The value of that does not exceed twenty-five hundred dollars. Fortunately, Mrs. Herron had deposited in the safety deposit vaults the more valuable part of her jewelry some two weeks ago, as not being required for some months to come. Thus, the loss is figured down to about seven thousand five hundred dollars, apart from the case, concerning which I am so anxious.” “Then,” asked Nick, “apart from that case, what was taken was from the safe in Mrs. Herron’s room and from the dining-room safe?” “That is all,” replied Mr. Herron. “Now, I want to say that, with that case out of my hands, there stands me, in an actual loss, about thirty-three thousand dollars. My anxiety to-day is to secure the return of that case and its contents. In securing that I secure what represents to me an outlay of twenty-five thousand dollars. I am quite willing to sacrifice the other valuables in order to get that case back again. Indeed, I am willing to spend more money, and, with this statement, I turn the matter over to you to do as you think best, pledging myself to respond to any demand you may make upon me.” Nick looked at Mr. Herron very seriously for a moment or two, and then said: “I presume you know, Mr. Herron, that there is such an offense in the eyes of the law as compounding a felony.” Mr. Herron nodded his head rather doubtfully, as if he did not comprehend wholly the words of Nick. The detective went on: “Your words might be tortured into the meaning of instructions to me to compound this felony.” “I do not intend,” said Mr. Herron, “to do anything wrong. I want to impress you with the idea that my main desire is to recover that case and its contents intact, even if it be at a considerable cost to myself.” To this Nick made no reply, merely bowing, and said: “There was a young man in the house last night with whom I talked, Temple by name.” “Yes,” replied Mr. Herron, “a nephew of mine--the son of a sister--who, though not living with us, is, nevertheless, very intimate in the house. He slept here during the absence of the family, at my request.” “Do not think, Mr. Herron,” said Nick, “that I am pointing to, or giving expression to, any suspicions in the questions that I shall ask. I am seeking all sorts and every little bit of information in them. Now, then, you trust this young man?” “Utterly.” “What are his habits?” “Excellent.” “He does not dissipate?”