"Got it?" asked Nick, with no endeavor to hide his eagerness.
"Yes. Luck was with me. I traced Mannion from the time he left Beltzville until he arrived in Baltimore."
Chick did not remain in Washington but a few hours. Another mission of importance took him away. After his departure, Nick called on Jackson Feversham. He did not tell the murdered man's friend all he knew and suspected, for the detective was a stickler for the preservation of the dramatic unities. But he did say this:
"Arthur Mannion is not dead. Preparations are making for the attempted perpetration of a monstrous fraud. If the conspirators knew what we know about the will, the attempt would never be made. But, thanks to the coroner and the local officials, the secret of the copies has been kept, and before many days somebody representing Arthur Mannion will appear in court and ask, first, to have that bogus will admitted to probate, and second, to have some person—I can name him—appointed administrator of Mannion's estate; the estate, of course, being the property which is mentioned in the will drawn in his favor."
"Who is this person who will represent Mannion?"
Nick told Feversham about the uncle. "Peter Mannion is the man. He came to Washington to see his nephew's wife, of course, but principally for the purpose of getting hold of the Playfair property. Playfair himself, being wanted for murder, could not appear, so the scheme that he should die was concocted."
"He is in hiding somewhere not far from here, I suppose?"
"That is my opinion. And he will know every move that will be made in his behalf. It's a pretty plot, a bold plot, but it hasn't the slightest chance to win."