“Now the spoon, if you please,” said he, taking it from her. “That is all, thank you. You may go.”
Minerva bowed, blushing, and left the room.
Chick, Patsy, and the Waldmeres were still more puzzled.
Nick arose and walked to the window. Unobserved by the others, he took his lens from his pocket and briefly studied—the finger print left by the girl on the steam-dampened handle of the silver spoon.
CHAPTER IV.
WHAT NICK HAD LEARNED.
It was after one o’clock when Nick Carter left the Waldmere residence, after having given such further instructions as the circumstances seemed to require.
Twenty minutes later found him seated in his business office with Chick and Patsy, when he at once began to tell them what he thought of the case.
“There is little to it, and also much to it,” said he enigmatically. “We must do some quick work, mighty quick work, or farewell to the Waldmere plate.”
“How do you size it up, chief?” questioned Patsy, who saw that Nick was somewhat anxious over the outcome of the case.
“That may be told in a nutshell,” Nick replied. “Waldmere’s designs were known by his servants. One of them put a gang of crooks wise to the possibility of this robbery and what could be derived from it.”