d their
way into the hands of a third person."

"That is not impossible, but I should hardly think it likely any one
would keep up worthless papers so long."

"I know that these papers are extant--nay, I know that they are being
used to the baron's prejudice."

Itzig writhed upon his seat. "Why do you speak to me upon these
subjects?" said he, hoarsely.

"You will soon discover my drift," said Anton. "I know, as I before
said, that the papers are still extant, and I have reason to believe
that you may discover their possessor. You can gain any information you
may still want respecting them from Hippus."

"Why from him?"

"He has, in the presence of witnesses, made use of expressions that
plainly prove him to be acquainted with their purport."

Itzig ground his teeth, and muttered something very like the words
"Drunken rascal."

Anton continued: "The casket and papers are the baron's property; and as
he is less intent upon the prosecution of the thief than on the
restoration of the papers, he is prepared to pay a large sum to any one
who procures them."

"If," said Itzig, "the baron lays so much stress upon the recovery of
the casket, how came it that so little fuss was made about it at the
time of its disappearance? I never heard of the police being applied to,
or of any steps being taken in connection with it."

This insolence enraged Anton. He replied indignantly, "The robbery was
accompanied by circumstances which made an inquiry painful to Ehrenthal;
the casket disappeared from his locked-up office, and it was probably on
that account that no legal investigation was made."

Itzig rejoined, "If I remember aright, Ehrenthal informed his friends at
the time that the investigation was given up out of consideration to the
baron."

Anton keenly felt this home-thrust, and could hardly command himself as
he replied, "It is possible that the baron may have had, at the time,
other reasons for letting the subject drop."

Now, then, Veitel felt safe. He read in Anton's suppressed anger how
necessary secrecy was felt. It was a <i>bona fide</i> offer; the baron was in
dread of the thief. Recovering all his composure, he quietly went on to
say, "As far as I know Hippus, he is a lying sort of fellow, who often
gets drunk. Whatever he may have said in his cups will not, I fear, help
us much in recovering the papers. Has he given you any sufficient ground
for applying to him?"

Now, then, Anton had reason to be on