“No,” replied Nick; “if it was anybody’s luck, it was your luck; but I don’t think luck has anything to do with it, after all. It is hard work and quick seizure of opportunities when they present themselves. And your luck was in seizing quickly the opportunity you saw. But what did you learn?” “The chief thing that I learned,” said Ida, “is that Mrs. Pemberton is beginning to believe that she has been badly advised and that she believes that it would have been better for her had she followed the intentions of her husband and stuck to Mr. Herron. She is poor and without money.” “But she has the ten thousand dollars that Mr. Herron gave her for the drawings and models.” “No, she has not,” replied Ida; “that was returned to Mr. Herron when she decided to accept the offer of the other people and demanded the return of the models and drawings?” “But it was not returned,” replied Nick. “She said to-day that it was,” replied Ida. “She gave the check to Mr. Elwell, her lawyer, who says that he returned it to Mr. Herron.” Nick started to his feet, crying: “The infernal rascals! They mean to rob her of everything. If they have got those drawings and models through the robbery of last night, she will not get a single penny.” The detective began to pace up and down the room hurriedly. Suddenly he stopped and asked: “Did she mention a man of the name of Seaman in her talk?” “Yes; he is the man who made the offer that induced her to go back from the arrangements with Mr. Herron.” “Was Mr. Elwell with him at the time?” “Yes; she mentioned him as being present at the time they concluded the arrangements with Mr. Seaman. Mrs. Pemberton said that Mr. Elwell wrote a paper in her rooms at the time, binding her to let Seaman have the drawings and models, and Seaman to the payment of certain sums of money at certain periods, which they both signed.” “They are a pack of rascals!” again exclaimed Nick. “Elwell knew that Mrs. Pemberton was in honor bound to let those drawings and models go to Mr. Herron, and that, in accepting the check of ten thousand dollars, she was legally bound. But he has stolen that check and left her without a cent. I must prevent him from realizing on that check if it is not too late. Follow up your acquaintance with Mrs. Pemberton, Ida.” Nick hurried to the office of Mr. Herron and learned from him that up to twelve o’clock that day, the check for ten thousand which he had given to Mrs. Pemberton had neither been received nor tendered to him, and that it had not been presented for payment. Under Nick’s advice, he hurried to the bank to stop its payment unless it was presented by the one in whose favor it was drawn. CHAPTER VI. A STRANGE MEETING. When Patsy returned to the place he had appointed to meet Bally Morris he was surprised to find that person waiting for him with Spike Thomas. So warm was their greeting of him that Patsy began to think that they regarded him as one of their pals.