“Possibly, Toulon, I can find the finger prints on your neck,” said Nick, rising. “They might enable us to identify your assailant, if he is a crook and——”
“I don’t think so, sir,” Toulon quickly objected. “I have been rubbing my neck, sir, and——”
“Ah, of course,” Nick cut in, resuming his seat. “That would obliterate them. Could you identify either of the men, Toulon?”
“No, sir. They wore masks.”
“All three?”
“Yes, sir.”
“H’m, that makes it bad,” Nick remarked.
“So it does, sir.”
Then, without having evinced the slightest suspicion of his hearer, but rather the contrary, in fact, Nick added pleasantly:
“That’s all, Mr. Toulon, and I’m very much obliged to you. When I find the three rascals, I will make them pay dearly for what they have done to-night.”