"Greatly frightened, the girl probably fainted, and fell to the ground," added Nick, in conclusion of the deductions by which he had solved the remarkable mystery. "The snake instantly scurried away through the grass, and left no trail behind him. Before the girl could recover from her swoon, the deadly poison had done its work. The venom of some of these India snakes is horribly rapid in its action." "That's true," cried Chick. "I saw one at the theater that evening, the venom of which would kill a man in ten seconds. A wee bit of a cuss at that." "Probably this was one of the same breed," said Nick, grimly. "At all events, I am sure that murder was the crime, and a snake the means." "And Sanetta Cervera the criminal." "Beyond the shadow of a doubt," declared Nick. "And what do you expect to learn from the Hindoo?" "I wish to know, in corroboration of my suspicions, whether Pandu Singe has missed any of his infernal reptiles." "Ah, I see." "If he has, my theory is surely correct, and we next must fix the guilt upon the guilty," said Nick, firmly. "I shall arrest Cervera this very night, providing the Hindoo informs me that-- Ah, here we are at his door. Come into the house with me, Chick, and we'll see what he has to say." They had stopped before an ordinary brick house on the East Side, and Nick quickly mounted the steps and rang the bell. The summons brought a corpulent English woman to the door, from whom Nick learned that the Hindoo and his interpreter were still there. "Doesn't Pandu Singe speak English?" inquired Nick. "Dear me, no!" exclaimed the landlady, with a mute yet visible laugh--visible in that her convolutions of flesh became observably agitated. "Not the first word, sir. He talks only a blooming jargon fit for snakes and spiders and that like." Nick laughed agreeably, having a request on his tongue's end. "He has moved his beastly den o' reptiles into my cellar to stay till next season, sir, a 'orror I'd not stand for a minute, so I wouldn't, only he pays me very 'andsome for the same." "Then he intends remaining here all summer, does he?" "He do," replied the woman, with startling terseness after the foregoing. "I wish to see him briefly on business," said Nick. "Go and ask him if he will receive us." The landlady complied, returning presently and inviting the two detectives into the house. She led the way to a rear room off the hall, at the door of which stood a swarthy foreigner, who bowed and smiled as the callers approached. "'E's the hinterpreter," vouchsafed the landlady, in a wheezy whisper. Nick nodded understandingly. Reading by the light of a lamp on a table in the room sat the Hindoo snake charmer himself, clad in a rich, loose robe of Oriental fashion. He arose with much deliberation and dignity when the detectives entered, and gravely bowed in greeting, while his interpreter hastened to place chairs for the visitors.