“There probably are not many who have been there precisely that length of time, and the books will readily supply the information. Get a list of them from Vernon, and then proceed to look them up on the quiet. Sift out who cannot be reasonably suspected. Well-known persons, those of recognized integrity, any whose apartments are badly suited for such a job--there are many ways by which you can eliminate those not reasonably to be distrusted.” “I’ve got you, chief, dead to rights.” “We may discover by this eliminating process some who seriously warrant suspicion,” Nick added. “You then may go a step farther, Patsy, and see what you can learn about them.” “Trust me for that, chief. I’ll get all that’s coming to me,” declared Patsy confidently. “You may report in person, or by telephone.” “That will depend on what’s doing. May I act on my own judgment?” “If sure you are right.” “That’s good enough for me, chief. Shall I leave at once?” “Presently.” “By Jove, there’s one point, Nick, that I cannot get over,” insisted Chick, who had been deep in thought for several moments. “It won’t run, grapple it how I will.” “What point is that, Chick?” Nick inquired. “The extraordinary likeness of the thief and Clayton. I know of no man, not excluding yourself, who is so clever in the art of making up as to counterfeit a smooth-shaved, clean-cut face like that of Chester Clayton. That one point, which is inconsistent with the theory you have formed, is still in my crop. I can’t swallow it.” “I admit the difficulty,” said Nick, smiling a bit oddly. “I think there is one person, however, who could enlighten us a little on that point, if so inclined.” “Whom do you mean?” “Clayton’s mother--Mrs. Julia Clayton.” “Why do you think so?” “For two reasons,” said Nick. “First, because of something she said when she entered Mademoiselle Falloni’s suite immediately after learning about the robbery. I already have told you the circumstances.” “But not what she said, Nick.” “In reply to an assertion by Clayton that the robbery had been committed by some man so like him as to escape detection, she cried with a gasp, catching up only two words--‘like you! So like you that--that’--and there she collapsed, Chick, unable to finish the response she had in mind, and down she crashed upon the floor in a dead faint.” “And you deduce from that?” Chick questioned. “Merely that Mrs. Julia Clayton knows of some man who bears a very close likeness to her son.” “By Jove, there may be something in that.” “It listens good to me, all right,” put in Patsy. “But what did she say, Nick, when she revived?” “That is where my second reason comes in,” said Nick. “She did not volunteer to say anything about it, nor to explain her sudden collapse. She listened to Clayton’s statement of the circumstances, and appeared to feel relieved, but not a word of explanation came from her.” “That was a bit strange, indeed.”