ger of the turn this matter has now taken. The
safe transit of the receipt may depend on your interpreting
_literally_ the advice which I give you at the end of this letter.

"I have only to add that every possible saving of time is now of the
last importance. More than one of our receipt-forms is missing--and
it is impossible to say what new frauds may not be committed if we
fail to lay our hands on the thief.

Your faithful servant
ROLLAND,
(Signing for Defresnier and Cie.)

Who was the suspected man? In Vendale's position, it seemed useless to
inquire.

Who was to be sent to Neuchatel with the receipt? Men of courage and men
of honesty were to be had at Cripple Corner for the asking. But where
was the man who was accustomed to foreign travelling, who could speak the
French language, and who could be really relied on to let no stranger
scrape acquaintance with him on his route? There was but one man at hand
who combined all those requisites in his own person, and that man was
Vendale himself.

It was a sacrifice to leave his business; it was a greater sacrifice to
leave Marguerite. But a matter of five hundred pounds was involved in
the pending inquiry; and a literal interpretation of M. Rolland's advice
was insisted on in terms which there was no trifling with. The more
Vendale thought of it, the more plainly the necessity faced him, and
said, "Go!"

As he locked up the letter with the receipt, the association of ideas
reminded him of Obenreizer. A guess at the identity of the suspected man
looked more possible now. Obenreizer might know.

The thought had barely passed through his mind, when the door opened, and
Obenreizer entered the room.

"They told me at Soho Square you were expected back last night," said
Vendale, greeting him. "Have you done well in the country? Are you
better?"

A thousand thanks. Obenreizer had done admirably well; Obenreizer was
infinitely better. And now, what news? Any letter from Neuchatel?

"A very strange letter," answered Vendale. "The matter has taken a new
turn, and the letter insists--without excepting anybody--on my keeping
our next proceedings a profound secret."

"Without excepting anybody?" repeated Obenreizer. As he said the words,
he walked away again, thoughtfully, to the window at the other end of the
room, looked out for a moment, and suddenly came back to Vendale. "Surely
they must have forgotten?" he resumed, "or