ition.

But Mr. Sylvester had scarcely reached out his hand to ring the bell by
which he usually summoned the janitor, when the agent of Hicks, Saltzer
& Co. came in. It was an interruption that demanded instant attention.
Saluting the gentleman with his usual proud reserve, he drew his
attention to the box lying upon the table.

"This is yours, I believe, sir," said he. "It was found in our vaults
this morning in the condition in which you now behold it, and we are
anxious to know if its contents are all correct."

"They have been handled," returned the agent, after a careful survey of
the various papers that filled the box, "but nothing appears to be
missing."

Three persons at least in that room breathed more easily.

"But the truth is," the gentleman continued, with a half smile towards
the silent President of the bank, "there was nothing in this box that
would have been of much use to any other parties than ourselves. If
there had been a bond or so here, I doubt if we should have come off so
fortunately, eh? The lock has evidently been wrenched open, and that is
certainly a pretty sure sign that something is not right hereabouts."

"Something is decidedly wrong," came from Mr. Sylvester sternly; "but
through whose fault we do not as yet know." And with a few words
expressive of his relief at finding the other had sustained no material
loss, he allowed the agent to depart.

He had no sooner left the room than Mr. Stuyvesant rose. "Are you going
to question Hopgood now?" queried he, nervously pocketing his note-book.

"Yes sir, if you have no objections."

The director fidgeted with his chair and finally moved towards the door.
"I think you will get along better with him alone," said he. "He is a
man who very easily gets embarrassed, and has a way of acting as if he
were afraid of me. I will just step outside while you talk to him."

But Mr. Sylvester with a sudden dark flush on his brow, hastily stopped
him. "I beg you will not," said he, with a quick realization of what
Hopgood might be led to say in the forthcoming interview, if he were not
restrained by the presence of the director. "Hopgood is not so afraid of
you that he will not answer every question that is put to him with
straightforward frankness." And he pushed up a chair, with a smile that
Mr. Stuyvesant evidently found himself unable to resist. The screen
trembled slightly, but none of them noticed it; Mr. Sylvester at once
rang for Hopgood.