“He has not,” was the reply. “I wish he would,” added the detective soberly, “for it is not safe to have such a fortune in so small a parcel. The diamonds were followed from Africa. Who knows whether the leaders in the conspiracy have given up hope of securing them? Those sailors never put up that job.” “I think I understand what your suspicions are regarding the combination between Hartley and the sailors, made in an hour,” said Chick. “Well,” said Nick, “it is the young man’s own affair. I have advised him, but he only laughs at me.” “Past experiences should teach him better,” said Chick, and so it would seem. CHAPTER IX. MAYNARD’S FOLLY. But past experiences did not prove of any advantage to Maynard, who still kept the diamonds in his possession, greatly to the surprise of his chum, Henry Townsend. “Do you mean that you have with you over half a million dollars in diamonds—here on the Bowery at midnight?” asked Townsend, one night as they sat in a popular café in the Bowery. “That is the situation.” “I had an idea that the gems you were handling so carelessly were paste.” “Not a bit of it. They are the real thing.” “Your entire collection?” “The same.” “Then you are running a fearful risk, especially when the nature of our visit to this part of the city is considered. How many members of the dramatic club know that you are carrying the diamonds in your pocket to-night?” “All of them, I take it. The gems were much admired.” “Then you’re a fool, Maynard. Why, it’s simply tempting Providence. You alarm me.” The men were taking a light luncheon in a rear room of the café. They had attended a dress rehearsal of a play soon to be presented in the interest of charity by a dramatic club of which they were both members. They were now waiting at the Bowery café for the arrival of an acquaintance, one Julius Mantelle by name, who was to conduct them to a private interview with a female fortune teller over whom the city was at that time in a craze. The appointment had been made that evening during the rehearsal already mentioned, and was for two o’clock at the woman’s rooms, not far from the place where the young men waited. “I wish you hadn’t mentioned the diamonds,” said Maynard presently. “You have about spoiled my evening. It makes me nervous, now that you mention them, to think of their being here at this time.” “I should think it would,” said Townsend. “How did you come to do it?” “Oh, they are to be used during the play, you know, and this was the last full-dress rehearsal, so I carried them down. Then, during the rehearsal, this appointment was made, unexpectedly, as you know, and I had to bring the gems with me or leave them there with the other properties.”