know it all," concluded he; and the silence that followed
the utterance of those simple words, was a silence that could be felt.

* * * * *

"Bertram?"

The young man started from his fixed position, and his eyes slowly
traversed toward his uncle.

"Have you that slip of paper which the man gave you before departing?"

"Yes," said he.

"Let me have it, if you please."

The young man with an agitated look, plunged his hand into his pocket,
drew out the small note and laid it on the table between them. Mr.
Sylvester let it lie, and again there was a silence.

"If this had happened at any other time," Bertram pursued, "one could
afford to let the man have his say; but now, just as this other mystery
has come up--"

"I don't believe in submitting to blackmail," came from his uncle in
short, quick tones.

Bertram gave a start. "You then advise me to leave him alone?" asked he,
with unmistakable emotion.

His uncle dropped the hand which till now he had held before his face,
and hastily confronted his nephew. "You will have enough to do to attend
to the other matter without bestowing any time or attention upon this.
The man that robbed Mr. Stuyvesant's box, can be found and must. It is
the one indispensable business to which I now delegate you. No amount of
money and no amount of diligence is to be spared. I rely on you to carry
the affair to a successful termination. Will you undertake the task?"

"Can you ask?" murmured the young man, with a shocked look at his
uncle's changed expression.

"As to this other matter, we will let it rest for to-night. To-morrow's
revelations may be more favorable than we expect. At all events let us
try and get a little rest now; I am sure we are both in a condition to
need it."

Bertram rose. "I am at your command," said he, and moved to go. Suddenly
he turned, and the two men stood face to face. "I have no wish," pursued
he, "to be relieved of my burden at the expense of any one else. If it
is to be borne by any one, let it be carried by him who is young and
stalwart enough to sustain it." And his hand went out involuntarily
towards his uncle.

Mr. Sylvester took that hand and eyed his nephew long and earnestly.
Bertram thought he was going to speak, and nerved himself to meet with
fortitude whatever might be said. But the lips which Mr. Sylvester had
opened, closed firmly, and contenting himself with a mere wring of his
nephew's hand, he a