p quickly.

"Pardon me, Frank, for using those words and at such a time. You know
how near my heart your success lies, and to hear you talk of giving it
all up makes me forget myself. Forgive me, but you 'll go back, won't
you?"

"You are too good, Maurice," said Frank impulsively, "and I will go
back, and I 'll try to redeem myself."

"There is no redeeming of yourself to do, my dear boy; all you have to
do is to mature yourself. We 'll have a detective down and see what we
can do in this matter."

Frank gave a scarcely perceptible start. "I do so hate such things," he
said; "and, anyway, what 's the use? They 'll never find out where the
stuff went to."

"Oh, you need not be troubled in this matter. I know that such things
must jar on your delicate nature. But I am a plain hard-headed business
man, and I can attend to it without distaste."

"But I hate to shove everything unpleasant off on you, It 's what I 've
been doing all my life."

"Never mind that. Now tell me, who was the last person you remember in
your room?"

"Oh, Esterton was up there awhile before dinner. But he was not alone
two minutes."

"Why, he would be out of the question anyway. Who else?"

"Hamilton was up yesterday."

"Alone?"

"Yes, for a while. His boy, Joe, shaved me, and Jack was up for a while
brushing my clothes."

"Then it lies between Jack and Joe?"

Frank hesitated.

"Neither one was left alone, though."

"Then only Hamilton and Esterton have been alone for any time in your
room since you left the key in your cabinet?"

"Those are the only ones of whom I know anything. What others went in
during the day, of course, I know nothing about. It could n't have been
either Esterton or Hamilton."

"Not Esterton, no."

"And Hamilton is beyond suspicion."

"No servant is beyond suspicion."

"I would trust Hamilton anywhere," said Frank stoutly, "and with
anything."

"That 's noble of you, Frank, and I would have done the same, but we
must remember that we are not in the old days now. The negroes are
becoming less faithful and less contented, and more 's the pity, and a
deal more ambitious, although I have never had any unfaithfulness on the
part of Hamilton to complain of before."

"Then do not condemn him now."

"I shall not condemn any one until I have proof positive of his guilt or
such clear circumstantial evidence that my reason is satisfied."

"I do not believe that you will ever have that against old Hamil