he
said he had always sympathized with his family, and Mrs. Pinney had, and
he would be glad to be of use to them. He was so far from conceiving
that his account of the defalcation in the _Events_ could have been
displeasing to them, that he bore them none of an offender's malice. He
referred to his masterpiece in proof of his interest, and he promptly
agreed with Matt as to the terms of his visit to Canada, and its object.

It was, in fact, the more practicable, because, since he had written to
Maxwell, there had been a change in his plans and expectations. Pinney
was disappointed in the _Events'_ people; they had not seen his proposed
excursion as he had; the failure of Northwick's letter, as an
enterprise, had dashed their interest in him; and they did not care to
invest in Pinney's scheme, even so far as to guarantee his expenses.
This disgusted Pinney, and turned his thoughts strongly toward another
calling. It was not altogether strange to him; he had already done some
minor pieces of amateur detective work, and acquitted himself with
gratifying success; and he had lately seen a private detective, who
attested his appreciation of Pinney's skill by offering him a
partnership. His wife was not in favor of his undertaking the work,
though she could not deny that he had some distinct qualification for
it. The air of confidence which he diffused about him unconsciously, and
which often served him so well in newspaper life, was in itself the most
valuable property that a detective could have. She said this, and she
did not object to the profession itself, except for the dangers that she
believed it involved. She did not wish Pinney to incur these, and she
would not be laughed out of her fears when he told her that there were
lines of detective work that were not half so dangerous, in the long
run, as that of a reporter subject to assignment. She only answered that
she would much rather he kept along on the newspaper. But this offer to
look up Northwick in behalf of his family, was a different affair. That
would give them a chance for their outing in Canada, and pay them better
than any newspaper enterprise. They agreed to this, and upon how much
good it would do the baby, and they imagined how Mrs. Pinney should stay
quietly at Quebec, while Pinney went about, looking up his man, if that
was necessary.

"And then," he said, "if I find him, and all goes well, and I can get
him to come home with me by moral suasion, I ca