Mr. Strickland pulled himself together, clasping both hands of the detective and saying fervently, but much more calmly:
“God bless you! God bless you for that encouragement. I will try to be composed. I really will try, Mr. Carter.”
“Capital!” Nick said approvingly, urging him to a chair. “I now think I shall accomplish something. Tell me, Arthur, what you know of this matter. Never mind at[Pg 5] present what has been stolen. State merely the circumstances.”
“That may be quickly done, Nick,” Gordon replied. “Miss Strickland, who resides in Boston and to whom I am engaged, is visiting my parents for a few days. We called here at five o’clock this afternoon, and her uncle consented to go with us to dinner. We left here about six o’clock and returned just before nine. During that brief interval these rooms were entered and robbed of treasures enough to fill a wagon, and the value of which can hardly be estimated. How the job was done is a mystery. There is not the slightest evidence showing where the thieves entered, or how they removed the property. It could not have been carried out through——”
“One moment,” Nick interposed. “Does Mr. Strickland occupy this entire floor?”
“He does.”
“Are you sure the door was closed and locked when you went out?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Who occupies the floor below?”
“Madame Denise, a fashionable milliner. Her rooms were open when we returned. Several girls were busy in the workroom. Madame Denise was in her display room in the front of the house. The door has a large plate-glass panel and is within a few feet of the street door.”