He then told Patsy in detail what had already passed, and added a word of warning that, if the Detective Bureau did send a straight person there, Mr. Sanborn was not to be allowed to offend them by driving them off. As Nick was about to leave the house, Chick and Ida arrived in quick succession, and he stopped long enough to instruct them and post them in their proper places. He went down the steps, walking toward the corner. There he saw Lannigan at a distance talking with another, who, leaving Lannigan, jumped into a cab and was driven away rapidly. Lannigan turned in another direction and disappeared, despite Nick’s efforts to keep him in sight. “Where have I seen that man who was with Lannigan? His face is familiar, but I can’t place him.” Dismissing the matter for the time, however, he hurried home to prepare himself to figure as one of Mr. Sanborn’s guests at the wedding. CHAPTER XV. A MISSING BRIDEGROOM. When Nick returned to the house of Mr. Sanborn, it had already taken on a festive air. The decorators had completed their labor and the florists had, at last, taken themselves off. It was not long after Nick had returned that the bridal party set out for the church. Within a few minutes three men made their appearance and said that they had come from the Central Detective Office, under the instructions of the authorities, to take charge of the house in the absence of Mr. Sanborn and his family. Nick was called to the door by the servant. Listening to the story of the man presenting himself, he said: “You are not of the detective force. Get away from here, and, if you make another attempt to enter, I will take you in.” The men, evidently astonished, hurried away with such haste as to show that their reception was unexpected. After they had gone Nick said to Chick: “That is the second attempt that has been made to enter the house, the same means being used, the pretense that they are police detectives.” “They will make another attempt,” said Chick. “Yes,” replied Nick, “but it will be in a different way. They will hardly try the same thing again.” “They seem to be pretty determined,” replied Chick. “The haul is a big one, if they can make it,” replied Nick. “We must post Patsy at this door, and I will instruct the servants, on no account, to allow any one to pass the doors until the return of the wedding party, unless one of us is called.” “There is a good deal of going in and out of the basement door in the rear of the house,” said Chick. “I fancy that I had better post myself down there for the present.” “It is a good plan,” said Nick. “Where are the presents displayed?” “On the second floor in a rear room,” replied Chick. “Finding that out, while you were gone, I put Ida in that room to maintain a close watch.” “It could not have been better,” replied Nick. Thus they waited, but not for long, before there was another diversion.