"I'll give it to youse dead straight," said he, at last; "I don't know
whether the mug was white or black. Say, he might have been a Chinee."

"I believe that fellow is faking," said the sergeant to Nick, as
Harrigan left the room.

"No; he's straight enough, I guess," said Nick. "He's not the sort of
man who would have been let into a game of this kind."

Nick then proceeded to question the prisoner in the presence of Chick
and the superintendent.

His answers were straightforward enough, but they threw little light
upon the affair.

The only subject which he refused to discuss was the whereabouts of his
wife. When questioned about her, he invariably declined to speak.

"She's gone on a little pleasure trip," he said, "and I want her to
enjoy it. This affair will be all over when she gets back. She'll never
hear of it, where she is, and that's as it should be."

Nick returned to his house, where he was informed that a visitor was
waiting for him.

He found a gentleman somewhat under forty years of age, and apparently
in prosperous circumstances, pacing the study floor.

The visitor was evidently greatly excited about something, for his hands