nness was not unmixed with gloom, "The thief seems to have
known what boxes to go to."

Bertram flushed and made some passing rejoinder; Mr. Sylvester and the
detective alone remained silent.

The boxes being brought in, Mr. Gryce opened them without ceremony.
Several papers met his eye in both, but as no one but the owners could
know their rightful contents, it was of course impossible for him to
determine whether anything had been stolen from them or not.

"Send for the New York agent of Hicks, Saltzer and Co.," came from Mr.
Sylvester, in short, business-like command.

Bertram at once rose. "I will see to it," said he. His agitation was too
great for suppression, the expression of Mr. Stuyvesant's eye, that in
its restlessness wandered in every direction but his own, troubled him
beyond endurance. With a hasty move he left the room. The cold eye of
the detective followed him.

"Looks bad," came in laconic tones from the paying teller.

"I had hoped the affair begun and ended with my individual loss,"
muttered Mr. Stuyvesant under his breath.

The stately president and the inscrutable detective still maintained
their silence.

Suddenly the latter moved. Turning towards Mr. Sylvester, he requested
him to step with him to the window. "I want to have a look at your
several employees," whispered he, as they thus withdrew. "I want to see
them without being seen by them. If you can manage to have them come in
here one by one upon some pretext or other, I can so arrange that screen
under the mantel-piece, that it shall not only hide me, but give me a
very good view of their faces in the mirror overhead."

"There will be no difficulty about summoning the men," said Mr.
Sylvester.

"And you consent to the scheme?"

"Certainly, if you think anything is to be gained by it."

"I am sure that nothing will be lost. And sir, let the cashier be
present if you please; and sir," squeezing his watch chain with a
complacent air, as the other dropped his eyes, "talk to them about
anything that you please, only let it be of a nature that will
necessitate a sentence or more in reply. I judge a man as much by his
voice as his expression."

Mr. Sylvester bowed, and without losing his self-command, though the
short allusion to Bertram had greatly startled him, turned back to the
table where Mr. Folger was still standing in conversation with the
director.

"I will not detain you longer," said he to the paying teller. "Your