Duryea laughed softly.
“Perhaps, Miss Nightingale,” he said, “this gentleman will be able to make some valuable suggestions in regard to those missing jewels. He has a namesake in New York who is said to be one of the smartest of living detectives. Isn’t that so, Carter? Eh?”
“Quite so,” replied Nick, looking him directly in the eye. “Only the gentleman to whom you refer is not a namesake. I happen to be the person mentioned myself.”
Duryea’s brows went upward in well-feigned surprise; a chorus of exclamations arose from every side; Nan bit her lips, for she had not intended that Nick should announce himself quite in that manner.
Lenore Remsen turned at once to the detective, and exclaimed:
“Really, Mr. Carter, are you the detective?”
“Yes, Miss Remsen, I really am.”
“Oh, I am so glad. Then you can assist us to recover our jewels.”
“I can try, if it is your wish that I should do so,” replied Nick calmly. “Were you a victim of the robberies, Miss Remsen?”