"I suppose you'll want to knock my head off when I tell you what I now propose to do," said the detective. "But I think it ought to be done."
"What is it?" asked Horace.
"I think you ought to be searched."
"Exactly my own idea," said Horace. "It is only fair to you. Proceed."
Nick searched him. The diamond clasp was not found. Horace certainly did not have it.
"I hope you're satisfied," he said to Nick. "You know perfectly well that I have had no opportunity to dispose of it. There wasn't much chance in that vault."
Nick laughed.
"I should say not," he replied. "I'm afraid we shall have to fall back upon the theory of the colonel."
"No theory," cried he; "but the living truth, and now proven before you both. But let me ask, Mr. Carter, why you suspected my nephew of taking the clasp."
"I didn't," replied Nick promptly. "I searched him in order to remove every possibility."