Madame Victoria now reported the second visit of Nick Carter, and all that had passed between them; also explained Nick’s simple object in first calling upon her in disguise, and stated that he came last only to ask about the woman in the photograph. “I have him well muddled, Amos,” was Madame Victoria’s last declaration over the wire. “There is nothing to be feared from him at present.” Badger’s dark countenance lighted while he listened, and he hastened to report the communication to his wife and Conley. “There! what did I tell you?” cried Claudia triumphantly. “I knew that Vic would prove more than a match even for Nick Carter. Now, there is just one thing to be done in order to avert suspicion from us.” “What is that?” “These road robberies must continue to occur,” declared the woman. “If they suddenly end at this time, after Carter’s visit here, he very possibly may infer that we are alarmed, providing he has any suspicion at all concerning us. Another robbery committed this very night would clinch matters in our favor.” “That’s right, too,” said Conley, quickly seeing the point. It was done, moreover, and one of the boldest yet committed, and the reports of it filled the morning papers, along with no end of editorials decrying the inferior work of the police in being unable to prevent such depredations. But the end was not yet, for that very day Chief Weston removed his own men from the case, and placed it entirely in charge of Nick Carter. CHAPTER IX. BODY AND LIMBS. “Chick, I’m hit with an idea!” This exclamation came from Nick Carter about ten o’clock one morning, two days after the highway robbery last reported, and the talk that followed showed with what remarkable insight this great detective arrived at the subtle deductions which contributed largely to his success. Chick and Patsy had arrived in Boston two days before, and both were now present with Nick in his room at the Adams House. Both had been fully informed of the facts thus far learned by him, moreover, as well as of his interview with the Badgers, and his visits to Madame Victoria. When he uttered the above exclamation Nick was seated at one of the windows of his room. In one hand he held the photograph that figured so curiously in the case, and which would have convinced any ordinary detective that Madame Victoria and Mrs. Amos Badger had been robbed precisely as alleged, for the camera, at least, would not have lied. Yet this bit of convincing evidence was so out of the ordinary, as well as the circumstances under which it had been obtained, that Nick from the very first had been inclined to distrust the picture. In his other hand he now held a large magnifying-glass, through which he was carefully studying the photograph, holding it in the full glare of the morning sunlight.