As stated, the detective had been studying the picture, and on the case in very small letters he saw printed with a pen and in ink the name Amalie Stevens. He required his powerful magnifying glass to read it, but under the glass he made it out. He trembled at the marvelous new lights that were flashing in on the dark mystery. Here was a chance for a new theory; a door was opened to account for the possession of the great fortune in possession of a humble fisherman, and here again was a partial suggestion as to the secrecy and the twenty-year clause in the trust, and Jack muttered:
"Oh, that the banker had not lost that letter—how plain everything would be now! Still we are on the right road, and no doubt after all that has been revealed I will eventually arrive at a full solution and clearing up of the whole matter."
Jack made some very close inquiries and learned particulars that convinced him that he was on the true road, but it was a difficult path that lay before him, and only a man of his wonderful energy and hopefulness would have dared to anticipate absolute success.
The detective returned to the city, and at the hour named once again met Mr. Townsend, and as usual the banker asked:
"Well, Mr. Wonderful, what now?"
"It is wonderful, Mr. Townsend, the strange facts I have secured; but first see here."
The detective passed the picture over to the banker.
"What is this?"
"A portrait of the heiress at the age of five or six."
"Well, well, you are closing down on facts."