“She went away two hours ago,” said the servant, a young girl who seemed devoted to the maid. “I saw her take the train.” Nick thought he knew why the girl had been hiding in the house, and why she had instructed the servant to tell of her departure. He turned to his assistant. “Bernice may try to take the next train,” he said. “Now, I want to talk with her before she gets off, and I wish you would watch the depot and see that she remains here at least until morning.” “But she has already gone,” said Chick. “You may find her hiding about the station,” said Nick. “The girl is frightened half to death. Anton thinks she has the diamonds.” “I don’t understand,” said Chick, but Nick would talk no more, so the assistant set out to the depot. Nick then asked for Mrs. Maynard, and together they ascended to the maid’s room. The old lady was trembling violently, and it was with difficulty that Nick got her into the room. The results of the interview were far-reaching. “Where is Bernice?” asked the old lady, at the close of the talk. “She is waiting to get to New York,” was the reply. “Yes, she asked permission to go, some time in the afternoon,” said the old lady, “and it was granted. The poor girl is half crazed.” Nick smiled and escorted Mrs. Maynard back to the parlor. “The case is clearing,” he thought. “If I only had a line on the whereabouts of the diamonds!” At this moment Charley Maynard entered the parlor, which Nick was about to leave. “There are strange doings about here,” he said. “Who did the shooting?” “All in good time,” said Nick. “There is little use in discussing suspicions.” “Do you think the diamonds are still in this house?” asked the young man. “I know that they are not,” was the reply. In a few words Nick explained the events of the afternoon in the city. Charley gave an exclamation of vexation. “If the sailors stole the diamonds,” he said, “and gave them to the agent, and some one unknown and untraceable stole them from the agent, what chance do I have of ever getting them back? If the sailors, who were in the house for a felonious purpose, did not murder my uncle, who did? I think we are further from the end of the case than when we began.” “If I have my usual luck,” replied Nick, “you shall hear the end of the case before another sunrise.” “Then you must know exactly what you are doing,” said Charley. “I am sure that no one else does.” “Right you are,” replied Nick. “There is one chance in two that I have located the diamonds. Be patient until the time for the disclosure comes.” Charley went grumbling off to his room, and Nick sat on the porch or wandered about in the moonlight until three o’clock. Then he went toward the station, taking a roundabout path. He had heard nothing from Chick since he had left the house early in the evening.