“No, you haven’t,” snapped Nick hotly. “I can appeal to the authorities. I can call in the police. I’ll do it, too, unless you come down from your high horse.” “Don’t be foolish, my man,” said Garland, frowning. “I’m not at all sure that the jewels are here. I’ll find out--I’ll make it a point to find out.” “Nonsense! You talk like an ass,” Garland protested. “Produce them, then,” frothed Nick. “Let’s have a look at them, at least. If they----” “They are in the time-lock vault, with a thousand other pledges,” Garland hurriedly explained. “I cannot produce them without searching the entire vault. You cannot tell me the name under which they are pledged. I have no other means of finding them immediately. It would take me half a day to go through the vault and identify them. You talk like a fool, sir. Bring the ticket and the amount of the loan, and you shall have the jewels within half a minute.” Nick continued to storm and argue. While this was in progress, attracting the attention of all in the place, Moses Hart came from the private office. He did not pause to join in the dissension, however, but at once went on to a narrow window at the lower end of the long counter--that at which the seedy, sinister-looking man then was waiting. Bending close to the window, Hart winked significantly and said, with his voice lowered: “Do you want to make a bit of money?” The fellow’s shifty eyes lighted eagerly. “Does a hungry cat want meat?” he returned, in an expressive whisper. “What’s your name?” Hart asked. “Jerry Nolan.” “I want to find out who that man is who----” “The gink doing the talking?” “Yes.” “I get you, boss.” “I want you to follow him when he leaves here, and find out,” Hart went on. “Pick both of them up when they leave.” “I’ll do it, boss! I’ll find out for you, or break a leg,” Nolan earnestly assured him. “Don’t return here to tell me, however,” Hart added. “I want you to inform my partner.” “The geeser having the spiel with the hothead?” “Yes. I will tell you where you must meet him.” “Come over with it,” nodded Nolan. Hart hastily informed him. “I get you, boss,” Nolan repeated. “I’m on to the job, and will be there, all right.” “Make sure you’re not detected,” Hart cautioned. “Leave me alone for that.” “And say nothing about this.” “And for that, too,” whispered Nolan, with an expressive leer. “That’s all, then. Go ahead.” Nolan turned away from the window. He bestowed another swift, furtive glance upon the detective, then hitched up his baggy trousers and sneaked out of the place. Nick Carter, after an apparently vain mission, departed with Lord Waldmere five minutes later. CHAPTER V. NOLAN MAKES A DISCOVERY. Jerry Nolan proved as good as his word, in so far as what he had been directed to accomplish was concerned.