“Those are questions more easily asked than answered,” said Nick. “It is hard to say why Waldmere has been abducted.” “You think, then, that he has been abducted?” “The circumstances point strongly to that. Waldmere is not a man to be mixed in a mess with another woman.” “That’s true,” Chick agreed. “The motive may have been revenge. Stuart Floyd is at large, you know, and he may have had it in for Waldmere because of those former cases, and for having put us on his track. He is capable of any kind of a knavish job.” “There is nothing in speculations,” said Nick. “I’ll think it over in bed and we’ll discuss it in the morning.” “That’s good judgment, in view of the hour,” Chick vouchsafed, rising. “There is a bare possibility, too, that Waldmere will have returned by that time.” Nick did not reply to this, nor was it verified the following morning. Ten o’clock found all three seated in the detective’s business office. Nick had been in communication with Mrs. Waldmere, also with Mr. Carrington, but only with negative results. The situation stood precisely where it had stood the previous night. Nick Carter’s mind had been active in the meantime, however, and he had decided what steps must be taken. “The motive for this crime is beyond conjecture,” said he, in reply to a question from Chick. “It can be learned only when we have identified Waldmere’s abductors, discovered what relations have existed between them, and unearthed additional evidence in the case. That is what next must be done.” “But along what lines?” Chick inquired. “One is opened, Chick, by a single significant point,” Nick replied. “The crooks must have learned several days ago what costume Mrs. Waldmere intended wearing, or they would not have been able, nor have had time, to prepare a duplicate of it.” “True, Nick; that goes without saying.” “The question is, then, from whom did they get their information?” Nick proceeded. “Mrs. Waldmere discussed the costume with her husband, and also confided in only one intimate friend, Clara Ringold.” “The crooks may have got their information, then, from a servant in one house or the other.” “That’s the very point. But it was a servant in the Ringold house.” “Why do you feel so sure of that?” “For several reasons,” said Nick. “First, because Waldmere is a fine fellow and his wife a lovable mistress, and their servants would be much less likely to be treacherous than persons employed elsewhere.” “There is some truth in that,” Chick allowed. “Second, because the crooks made a mark of the Ringolds and used their invitation cards,” Nick went on. “Why did they select that Brooklyn couple, instead of some invited couple living nearer?” “You say.” “First, because there would be less danger of detection, of a personal call at the Carrington residence when the telephone proved useless, than in the case of persons living in town.” “That’s true.”