nce.

"No," came at length from Mr. Sylvester, with a composure that
astonished himself. "I was not questioning you about matters of a year
agone. But you might have told that incident if you pleased; it was very
easily explainable."

"Yes sir, I know, and I beg pardon for alluding to it, but I was so
taken aback, sir, by your questions; I wanted to tell the exact truth,
and I did not want to say anything that would hurt you with Mr.
Stuyvesant; that is if I could help it. I hope I did right, sir," he
blundered on, conscious he was uttering words he might better have kept
to himself, but too embarrassed to know how to emerge from the
difficulty into which his mingled zeal and anxiety had betrayed him. "I
was never a good hand at answering questions, and if any thing really
serious has happened, I shall wish you had taken me at my word and
dismissed me immediately after that affair. Constantia Maria would have
been a little worse off perhaps, but I should not be on hand to answer
questions, and--"

"Hopgood!"

The man started, eyed Mr. Sylvester's white but powerfully controlled
countenance, seemed struck with something he saw there, and was silent.

"You make too much now, as you made too much then of a matter that
having its sole ground in a mistake, is, as I say, easily explainable.
This affair which has come up now, is not so clear. Three of the boxes
have been opened, and from one certain valuables have been taken. Can
you give me any information that will assist us in our search after the
culprit?"

"No sir." The tone was quite humble, Hopgood drew back unconsciously
towards the door.

"As for the mistake of a year ago to which you have seen proper to
allude, I shall myself take pains to inform Mr. Stuyvesant of it, since
it has made such an impression upon you that it trammels your honesty
and makes you consider it at all necessary to be anxious about it at
this time."

And Hopgood unused to sarcasm from those lips, drew himself together,
and with one more agitated look at the box on the table, sidled
awkwardly from the room. Mr. Sylvester at once advanced to the screen
which he hastily pushed aside. "Well, sir," said he, meeting the
detective's wavering eye and forcing him to return his look, "you have
now seen the various employees of the bank and heard most of them
converse. Is there anything more you would like to inquire into before
giving us the opinion I requested?"

"No sir," said the detectiv