ll he felt himself growing
seriously annoyed, and sending for the man, asked him what he meant by
this unusual surveillance. The janitor seemed troubled, flushed
painfully and fixed his eyes in manifest anxiety on the cashier who,
engaged in some search of his own, was just handling over the tin boxes
that lined the vault before them. Not till he had seen him shove them
back into their place and leave the spot, did he venture upon his reply.
"I'm sure, sir, I'm very sorry if I have annoyed you, but do you think
Mr. Sylvester will be down at the usual hour?"

"I know of no reason why he should not," returned Bertram.

"I have something to say to him when he comes in," stammered the man,
evidently taken aback by Bertram's look of surprise. "Will you be kind
enough to ring the bell the first moment he seems to be at leisure? I
don't know as it is a matter of any importance but--" He stopped,
evidently putting a curb upon himself. "Can I rely on you, sir?"

"Yes, certainly, I will tell my uncle when he comes in that you want to
speak to him. He will doubtless send for you at once."

The man looked embarrassed. "Excuse me, sir, but that's just what I'd
rather you wouldn't do. Mr. Sylvester is always very busy and he might
think I wished to annoy him about some matters of my own, sir, as indeed
I have not been above doing at odd times. If you would ring when he
comes in, that is all I ask."

Bertram thought this a strange request, but seeing the man so anxious,
gave the required promise, and the janitor hurried off. "Curious!"
muttered Bertram. "Can anything be wrong?" And he glanced about him with
some curiosity as he went to his desk. But every one was at his post as
usual and the countenances of all were equally undisturbed.

It was a busy morning and in the rush of various matters Bertram forgot
the entire occurrence. But it was presently recalled to him by hearing
some one remark, "Mr. Sylvester is late to-day," and looking up from
some papers he was considering, he found it was a full hour after the
time at which his uncle was in the habit of appearing. Just then he
caught still another sight of the protruding eyes of Hopgood staring in
upon him from the half-opened door at the end of the bank.

"The fellow's getting impatient," thought he, and experienced a vague
feeling of uneasiness.

Another half hour passed. "What can have detained Mr. Sylvester?" cried
Mr. Wheelock the cashier, hastily approaching Bertram.