While the others were at their parts, Nick went back to his dressing room. “What are you going to do when it comes time for you to go on?” asked Patsy. “You don’t know a word of the part.” “If Chick acts promptly,” said Nick, “the big scene will come off before I am called upon to speak my lines.” “It will be something of a surprise party,” said Patsy. “Still, there are not so many members of the syndicate here that we know about. You have Mantelle, Stella, the two waiters, the guard at the old headquarters, and the man who tried to burglarize your house already under arrest. How many more are there here?” “The chief,” replied Nick, “the alleged reporter, Bernice, Anton, and the members of that glee club. Oh, we’ll pick them all up if everything goes well.” “When does it come off?” “Very shortly, now.” At that moment there came a knock on the door leading to the hall. One of the members of the club opened it, and six men, wearing the white uniforms of caterer’s men, walked in, bearing great baskets covered with white cloths. “A surprise!” cried half a dozen voices. “A feed!” said Bernice, with a laugh. “Who is responsible for this?” asked the chief. The baskets were placed in the centre of the stage, and the members of the company gathered about them. Nick and Patsy stood back where the men who had brought the baskets could see every move they made. Then, when the entire company was bending over the baskets, Nick gave a signal and seized the chief of the Great Diamond Syndicate! There were screams, calls for help, and frantic efforts at escape, but in a moment every member of the club who belonged to the villainous diamond syndicate was securely handcuffed. “How was that for a spread?” asked Chick, who had seized Anton. “What does it mean?” demanded the chief, looking hard at Nick, still wearing the stage costume prepared for Mantelle. Nick threw off his rig and stood revealed. “I think,” said the chief coolly, “that we have met before.” “Right you are,” said Nick, “and under different circumstances. How do you like the change of positions?” “I should like to have you as a working partner,” said the chief. “You are courageous and resourceful, yet you sometimes make mistakes. You have made a scene here to-night and arrested practically all the members of this club. What charge can you make against us?” The members of the club who had not been arrested now gathered around. “What does this mean?” they asked. They were mostly the sons and daughters of wealthy people, and they would in time have fallen victims to the syndicate. “It means,” replied Nick, “that you have been associating with murderers and robbers ever since you joined this club.” “That is strong talk,” said the chief. “Be careful what you say.” Bernice Bouvé, who had been standing by Nick’s side, now sprang away as if to make her escape by means of a window.