“Besides, he knew me, sir, the first time. I let him in here,” Nancy went on. “I was wise to that, all right, but it wasn’t for me to meddle with the master’s affairs. So I kept my trap closed.” “Why did you think Floyd recognized you?” “I saw his lamps light up the instant they lit on me,” Nancy explained, in characteristic terms. “He looked at me like he saw a ghost.” “Did he say anything to you?” “No, not a word, Mr. Carter. But no man with eyes like his is on the level. I know what I’m saying. It’s like breaking sticks for me to pick out a crook from a bunch of men. Floyd is one, Mr. Carter, if ever there was one, and that’s why I got the mistress to send for you. I don’t forget what you did in that Maybrick case--and what you did for me, sir, never!” “I’m quite sure of it, Nancy,” Nick replied. “You can tell me no more about the two men, I infer.” “No, sir.” “That is all, then. I will look deeper into this matter, Mrs. Darling, if you wish me to do so, under one condition.” “Any conditions you see fit to impose, Mr. Carter,” she replied gratefully. “You must leave the case entirely to me, aside from the instructions you already have given your lawyer and Doctor Lyons. I will see and inform both of them of our arrangements.” “Very well. I leave it all to you.” “And say nothing about it to others,” Nick added. “There must be no publicity at present.” “I am more than anxious to avoid it,” Mrs. Darling assured him. Nick arose and took his hat from the table. “I am going to have a look at the ruins of the boathouse,” he said. “If you will show me the way----” “I will send Nancy with you.” “I prefer to go alone,” Nick objected. “I will return in a very few minutes.” He left the house by the rear door, passing around the stable and down the river bank. All that remained at the boathouse and its contents was a heap of charred, black ruins. The ground near by was covered with footprints of many persons who had visited the tragic scene, but none of them were of material significance. Nick wanted only to view the surroundings, however, and he saw with a glance that the spot was so shut in by the hill in the rear and the trees on either side, that knaves selecting it for the murder of Darling, if such was his fate, would have incurred only chance observation by persons on the river, against which effective precautions could easily have been taken. Scarce ten minutes had passed when Nick returned and rejoined Mrs. Darling in the library. He then obtained from her a description of Floyd and Sheldon, the only two persons then seeming to invite suspicion, and he also asked to see a photograph of her husband. “I know of only one in existence, Mr. Carter,” she replied. “That was taken the year after our marriage. It is still a very good likeness of him. It is in our album. I will get it for you.” She brought the volume and opened it on the library table--only to search it vainly. The photograph of Mr. Cyrus Darling had disappeared.