Chick hastened to comply, while Nick mentioned all of the essential points in the case, as thus far presented.
Chick’s face became more grave while he looked and listened. He twice read the letter found in Pauline Perrot’s wastebasket, bearing Gordon’s signature, and then he glanced at the bloodstained garments she was known to have worn when last seen with him.
“By Jove, I may be wrong, after all,” he said seriously. “The case looks different to me. It must have been Gordon himself who took the bonds and money from the vault. Are you sure this is his writing?”
“Here is a specimen of his writing,” said Nick, taking a letter from the library desk. “Compare them.”
CHAPTER VI.
NICK CARTER’S FINE WORK.
Chick Carter was not long in coming to a conclusion concerning the two letters Nick had submitted to him.
“By Jove, the writing appears to be identical,” said he, after a careful inspection. “If this one in French is a forgery, Nick, it’s a mighty clever one.”
“Don’t overlook something,” said Nick, smiling a bit oddly.
“What’s that?”
“You already have sized up Pauline Perrot as a clever crook.”