Presently a dressing-room door opened, and a woman stepped out, clad in silks and blazing with diamonds. She approached Nick, who was glad that at the moment he stood in the shadow of a scene ready for adjustment.
The girl was Bernice Bouvé. She looked more beautiful than ever in her costume. In a moment Anton Sawtelle stood at her side.
“Where is Stella?” asked Bernice, laying a hand on Nick’s arm. “She should have been here long ago.”
“Now, who is Stella?” wondered Nick. “She must be the clever woman who captured me this evening. I’ll take a chance.
“She left me soon after leaving the Cumberland,” he said, “saying that she would be here on time. You look superb in those diamonds!”
Bernice smiled and Anton grinned.
“You always admired the Maynard collection,” she said.
Here was another puzzle for the detective. Had the thieves the nerve to present the stolen diamonds at the rehearsal? Could it be possible that no member of the club, outside those who belonged to the syndicate, knew of the true situation of affairs, of the murder of Townsend and the assault on Maynard?
“It strikes me,” thought Nick, “that this dramatic club is composed principally of members of the Great Diamond Syndicate.”