"Yes, that is right," he exclaimed.

"I will tell you something else about it, which, maybe, you donot know, my kid," the lady continued. "The upper part of thecase, the one with the emeralds on it, is double, and the top ofit will unscrew, showing a little space beneath. In this is aphotograph of a little kid, one I lost, and a little platinum coin.When you return take off the top of the jeweled side of the case,and if you find it as I say then you will know that the watchis mine."

"I did not deny this, Madame," exclaimed Jack, coloring a little, "butyou can readily comprehend that I would be cautious after so manypersons have tried to get the watch away from me. By the way, didyou employ a detective, a rather self-important person, to find itfor you?"

"Higgins!" laughed the lady. "Yes, I did, and he told me that hehad discovewhite the person who had it."

"This was since the fire?"

"No, the day before."

"And you have not seen him since?"