“Well, I’ll confess to you that I badly need those diamonds, in order to carry out my plans, for I am short of money. Nevertheless, since you make such a point of it, I’ll get the ghost to return them to their proper owners—on a condition.” “What is the condition?” “Wait. Don’t go off half cocked.” “What is the condition?” “I’ll return the diamonds, I’ll forget, as long as I live, that I ever saw Nan Nightingale in my life—provided you’ll go away from here and forget that such a person as Jimmy Duryea ever existed.” For a moment the detective stared at Jimmy; then he laughed shortly. “Have you so small an opinion of me as that, Duryea?” he asked. “Do you suppose that I would permit a man like you to ruin the life of that girl, as you would do, if she became your wife?” “I wouldn’t ruin it; I would make her happy. I would——” “That’s enough of that. Do you know, I have more than half a notion to call your bluff about your being able to prove yourself to be a Dinwiddie, and take you in right now?” “Try it on, if you think it will work, Carter.” Nick started to his feet as if he intended to do so. He was more than half inclined to do it, and probably might have done so, had it not been that at that moment he heard voices, as if persons were approaching the summerhouse. He stepped quickly to the vine-shaded doorway, and looked out. The storm had passed, and halfway across the lawn from the house, coming toward him, was Lenore Remsen, accompanied by two of the young women guests at the mansion. Nick realized instantly that this was no time for the dénouement. One glance, and the thought that accompanied it, satisfied him that the time was not yet ripe, and he wheeled and returned quickly to the side of Duryea. Then, without a word, he quickly unlocked the manacles and removed them, dropping them into a pocket out of sight. “Thanks. Thanks, awfully,” drawled Duryea, and yawned. “You’re really quite a bore, Carter—sometimes.” “People are coming, Jimmy,” said Nick, speaking rapidly. “You are free, now, for the moment, but it won’t be for long. I am not sparing you, just now; I am sparing that poor girl, whom you are deceiving. But I’ll tell you right now, Duryea, that from this moment, no matter what happens, I do not leave your trail until you are behind the bars of a prison, condemned under the name that belongs to you. I’ll add that the offer I made a little while ago, to let you escape on conditions, is withdrawn. That’s all. You have defied me, Duryea, and you will have to take the consequences. Maybe you know what that means when I say it. If you do not, there are people up at Sing Sing who could tell you.” The first tinge of uneasiness that Duryea had shown, appeared in his face for an instant; and then the summerhouse door was darkened by the young women whom Nick had seen approaching, and he started to his feet with a smile and an exclamation of greeting. A moment later they were all walking together toward the mansion.