A wave of crimson had risen over Mrs. Badger’s face, while on that of her husband a darker frown was settling. “I only happened to notice the woman’s hands, Detective Carter, merely because she held in one of them the revolver by which I was so frightened, and from which I scarcely could take my eyes. Naturally, then, I noticed the hand that held it.” Nick vaguely wondered why she had gone to the trouble to make this explanation, for there seemed to him to be no special occasion for it; and before he could frame any reply, Badger huskily demanded, with sinister curiosity: “Why are you pressing such questions as these, Detective Carter? I fail to see that they signify anything very important.” “It signifies considerable to me, Mr. Badger, this question of sex,” replied Nick, with a quiet laugh. “Why so?” “Because I shall be able to proceed much more intelligently, sooner or later, if I know positively that this gang of crooks consists only of men, one or more of whom is masquerading at times as a woman.” “There is something in that,” admitted Badger. “Female highwaymen are not common in these days,” added Nick pointedly; “and I find it hard to credit the evidence presented in this photograph, despite your wife’s very natural confidence in the reliability of her own eyes.” “I don’t much wonder at it,” Badger now laughed indifferently. “It is not at all material who took the photograph,” Nick went on. “I understand that Miss Clayton has an office in town. I think I will call upon her this morning, in the hope that she may have seen something worthy of note at the time of the robbery. Am I likely to find her at this hour?” “Yes, surely,” exclaimed Mrs. Badger, rising. “If you will wait just one moment, Detective Carter, I will give you her business-card.” “If you please.” “You will then have no trouble in finding her rooms.” Nick bowed, then arose and took his hat from the table. Both Badger and his wife accompanied him to the door, the latter giving him the card mentioned, and the former remarking, as Nick descended the steps and entered the runabout: “I hope you’ll inform me, Mr. Carter, if you get any reliable clue to the identity of these rascals. If I can aid you in any way, moreover, I beg that you will command me.” “Thank you,” returned Nick, nodding for Grady to start the machine. “I will bear it in mind, Mr. Badger.” As he rode down the driveway he read the card which he still retained in his hand, but the name of Miss Clayton did not appear upon it. It was the card of—Madame Victoria.