“No, sir; unless——”

“Unless what?”

“Why, sir, I have been wondering who the girl is, and why Mr. Barnes didn’t tell us something about her, for she is the living image of Mrs. Field!”

Nick Carter gave a start.

Had everybody combined in a league against him?

It almost seemed so. Here was the housekeeper testifying to a remarkable resemblance between this girl and Mrs. Field, just as he was firmly settled in the conclusion that she was a rank impostor.

He said, sharply:

“You must be mistaken!”

“I am not. I never saw a resemblance more strongly marked than this girl bears to Mrs. Field as I remember her.”

“What has been said to you about this girl?”