"As you please," responded the lady, haughtily. "I can only say that I trust you will find this thief speedily, and end this annoyance to which we are being subjected." "I don't think it ought to be hard for a person of your abilities," said Miss Stevens. "I have already solved the puzzle." "And who is the guilty person?" asked Nick, with a smile. "Colonel Richmond, of course." "Why should he do this?" "Because he's crazy. That's reason enough." "I'd like to hear you explain your theory a little further." "Why, Mr. Carter, I'm surprised at you. Is there any motive for this so-called crime? No. Then it must be a crazy person's work. Is there more than one lunatic among us? Certainly not. So, as two and two make four, and the sun doesn't rise in the west, Colonel Richmond is the man. What kind of a detective do you think I'd make?" "There isn't any one alive who could compare with you," said Nick. "You're joking." "No; I'm serious. There are plenty of detectives who can reason up to the wrong man, but none, I'm sure, who can do it so quickly as you can." Mrs. Stevens laughed at her daughter's discomfiture, and the girl joined heartily. "Supposing for a moment that your theory is true," continued Nick. "How do you suppose that Colonel Richmond managed to get the jewels over here?" The girl became serious in a moment. "This is a very delicate subject," she said. "I hate to cast suspicion upon any one." "You refer to the new servant, of course." "Well, we know nothing about the girl," said Mrs. Stevens, "and, of course, when anything so strange happens in the house we naturally think of her. She brought good references, and she certainly looks honest." "Did she have an opportunity to put the jewels into this room?" "As to that, I have talked it over with my daughter, and it seems just possible that the girl could have done it. I thought at first that it was not." "Of course, it was possible," exclaimed Miss Stevens. "She could have run up the back stairs at any time." She proceeded to explain this theory, until it seemed quite plausible. And yet all the time she was filling the detective's mind with the blackest suspicions against herself. Here was the case: The plotters were trying to work on Colonel Richmond's superstitions. A celebrated detective had been called in. If he succeeded, the plotters failed, and the Stevenses lost the jewels. What more natural than that the criminals should wish to throw the detective on a wrong scent? Was it not to be expected that they should pitch upon this new servant as the best person with whom to deceive Nick. Altogether, Miss Stevens was making out a very strong case against herself. CHAPTER V. COLONEL RICHMOND'S NIGHT ADVENTURE. Of course, Nick questioned the servant. To have failed to do that would have been to throw light upon his real suspicions. She was a tall, slender, and rather pretty Irish girl, named Annie O'Neil. Her answers to all questions were plain and simple.