“May I look at this chain?”
“Why, yes, Mr. Tillinghast.”
Dick took it up in his left hand. The outer sides of the links were covered with intricate scroll work. One link was missing. With trembling fingers, he took the coin out of his pocket and placed the link in the broken chain. It fitted exactly!
Dick’s heart was beating nearly to suffocation as he asked, in little more than a whisper:
“Can you tell me to whom this chain belongs?”
“Certainly, sir. Count de Morny.”
CHAPTER XXII
AT THE TIME APPOINTED
Dick leaned limply against the high, glass counter, his cold fingers holding fast to the telltale chain.
“Mr. Tillinghast.” He whirled around and found Hardy standing by his side. “I tried to see you at your office, but Colonel Byrd said you were at Stoneleigh Court. On going there, Mr. Blake’s servant told me I might catch you here. Chief Conner has received word that Clark was arrested this morning in New York on board an outgoing tramp steamer. He was disguised as an Italian stoker. Two Secret Service men are bringing him back on the six ten train to-night. Chief Conner sent me word to look you up at once, as he—”
“Just a moment, Hardy,” Dick interrupted. He had done some rapid thinking, and a daring plan had occurred to him, which he decided to put into instant execution. “Are you a good bluffer?”