This finally came to be so urgent that it even
involved an effort to circumscribe the futile activities. In view of the
provisions of Mr. Royston's will no portion of the minor's estate could
be used to defray the extremely lavish expenses that the thoroughness and
extent of the search involved. All the large disbursements of money came
from Mrs. Royston's own share of her husband's fortune. This brought her
uncle, Mr. Marable, into the discussion. Her resources would not sustain
these heavy draughts, he urged. In case the child remained perdu, to be
sure, and the legal presumption of his death obtain by reason of the
lapse of time, his estate would by the terms of the will vest in her, and
thus financially all might be well. But on the contrary, should he be
found in the course of time, this wild extravagance would result in
bankrupting her. She thought it necessary to keep detectives in constant
pay to hold their efforts and interest to the search, even though the
ultimate rich reward were dangled continually before their eyes. The
flamboyant advertisements, the widespread publicity over half the world,
had involved commensurate cost. Large sums had been disbursed for
information merely that was rooted in error and bore only disappointment.
Then, too, were the inevitable mistakes, the fakes and cheats, and the
expenses of a score of agents effecting nothing. Mr. Marable rubbed the
wisps of gray hair on either side of his corrugated temples, and wrung
his solvent hands in financial anguish.

He sought in this cause to take advantage of Bayne's influence with
Lillian, and made an effort to induce him to remonstrate with her. They
were in the library of her house in Glaston, looking over some papers
together, a real estate mortgage, in fact, by which Lillian intended to
raise a large sum for more unrestricted use in the extension of the
search.

Bayne sat at the table, scanning the money-lender's memoranda, his
experience as a broker having developed a keen scent for any untoward or
mischievous detail.

"But in seeking the wisest methods of economy, the essential opportunity
may escape her. While she is financiering, the child may die in the hands
of his abductors, or he may succumb to hardship otherwise--be disfigured
by disease or disabled by exposure, or slaughtered, so to speak, mentally
or morally, or spirited away and be heard of never again. No, no," Bayne
declared definitely; "I could not advise her to conside