He showed Nick the box. It contained nothing. Horace had removed the piece which he had used in the deception.
"Good Heavens!" cried Horace. "He heard me."
He pointed to the colonel, who stood like one who has been struck upon the head.
"Gone!" he cried, rushing toward them. "You deceived me!"
Well, they searched the drawer, and the clasp certainly was not there.
Horace explained how he had deceived the colonel by quickly putting another piece of jewelry into the little case when he found it empty.
"I am clever at sleight-of-hand," said he, "or I could never have worked it. I just flashed it before your eyes, uncle, and made you think that you saw the clasp. Forgive me; I thought it was the best."
"I will forgive you, Horace," said Colonel Richmond, gently; "but now you must believe. And you, too, Mr. Carter. Here is proof positive."
They locked the drawer and left the vault.
In the ante-chamber Nick turned to Horace.