“No one in the——Oh, you mean one of the servants, of course. No; really. The staff of servants that we have in this house are, all of them, old retainers; every one of them has been a long time with us. You know this is the one place which we really call home. We always speak of ‘coming home,’ when we come here. Oh, no, indeed, we could not suspect one of the servants.” “What is your opinion on the subject, Mr. Dinwiddie?” asked the detective, turning fairly toward Duryea. The latter smiled, showing his white and even teeth; he twirled his mustache for a moment before he replied, and when he did so it was with deliberation. “Really,” he said, “you know I am not an authority, Mr. Carter—such as yourself, for example. Still—er—I think I have an opinion, nevertheless. We are all apt to form opinions in such cases, don’t you think, Mr. Carter?” “Yes. What is yours? You interest me.” “Do I? Really! You confess yourself to be the great and only Nick Carter, and then do me the honor to care for my opinion!” “In the hope that it might prove to be an expert one—yes,” replied the detective. “Expert? Oh, dear, no; not at all expert. Just an opinion.” “Well, what is it?” “I shall shock all the ladies present—and some who are not immediately present in this group—when I mention it.” “Nevertheless——” “Oh, nevertheless, I shall not hesitate—even at the risk of giving offense. I should venture it as my opinion that the thief in this instance is a woman, whether she happens to be a servant—or one of the guests. There! Have I shocked all of you?” He laughed easily when he asked the question, as if to take away the sting of it, and he turned his speaking eyes from one to another of the group until he had gone the rounds—and, somehow, he managed to create the impression that he was merely indulging in a joke at their expense. But there was an uneasy laugh around him, nevertheless. Lenore Remsen started to her feet, and exclaimed: “I think that was horrid of you, Ledger! Horrid! The idea of saying such a thing! We shall all be looking askance at each other, from now on. What do you think about it, Miss Nightingale?” “I should sooner incline to the opinion that the thief was a man, and a guest,” was the deliberate reply; and she added, not without intent, for she was angry, seeing exactly what Duryea had intended to convey to her: “One of the lately arrived guests, at that.” Lenore clapped her hands. “That is where you get it back, Ledger,” she exclaimed. “But, really, that was horrid of you, to say such a thing.” “Who are the lately arrived guests, Miss Nightingale?” asked the detective, without turning his head; and she replied, without hesitation: “Mr. Dinwiddie is himself the most lately arrived one.” Duryea laughed aloud.