Evening came and there was no news of the missing bag. There were not even any satisfactory clues. When Nick heard this he thought very hard for a few minutes, and then inquired at what time the shops closed. He was told; and consulting his watch, realized that they would shut in less than an hour. "What's the name of the best jewellery store in this town?" he wanted to know. There were several which ranked about the same, and scribbling three or four names on his shirt-cuff, he rushed off to find the first. "Got any gold handbags?" he asked in a low voice, as if he had something to conceal. "Kind made of chain, with diamonds and sapphires along the top." He was shown the stock; saw nothing apparently which struck his fancy, and was off like a shot in search of the next name on his list. At this place lived a bag which, so far as he could remember, seemed the duplicate of Mrs. May's except that the stones alternating with the diamonds were emeralds instead of sapphires. "Just keep that thing for twenty minutes," said he. "I'll come back to tell you whether I'll take it or not, and what I want done to it, if I do." "Another gentleman was in to-day looking at that bag," said the attendant. "If he comes before you, I must let him have it." "What price did you make for him?" asked Nick. "Seven hundred and seventy-five dollars," was the reply. "Well, will you do a little gamble? Keep it till I come in, and if I take it I'll pay eight hundred. If I don't, you can have twenty-five dollars interest on your time." The attendant laughed. "We don't do business that way. But I guess I can promise to keep the bag till you come back, if you hurry." Nick did hurry, and visited three other shops within ten minutes, though they were at some distance from each other. He found nothing to suit him. "I'll take that bag, if you can change the stones and put in sapphires instead of emeralds," he announced, somewhat breathlessly, wiping his forehead. "I know it will come dearer. But I'm willing to pay." "When would you want it?" asked the shopman. "To-morrow morning by ten o'clock at latest." "Oh, impossible!" "I don't know much about that word," said Nick. "We've cut it out of the dictionary up my way. Offer your men what they want to do night work, and I guess they'll name a price." After all, even in a smart jewellery shop they do not sell a gold bag every day; and a point was stretched to gratify the purchaser, who had a way which made people glad to please him. He went back to his hotel, feeling guilty but happy. "She's going to have a gold bag, anyhow," he thought. "I don't believe she'll ever know the difference." And Nick began to rejoice that the old bag would never be found. It would be splendid to know that she was using a thing _he_ had given her. If the other bag did turn up, the police would let him know. That was arranged; and he would manage somehow.