Herapath's pass-book--Mr. Ravensdale
has it."

The visitors presently gathered round the desk on which Mr. Playbourne
laid the parchment-bound book--one of a corresponding thickness with the
dead man's transactions. The manager turned to the pages last filled in.

"You're aware, of course, some of you at any rate," he said, "you, Mr.
Halfpenny, and you, Mr. Selwood, that the late Jacob Herapath dealt in
big sums. He always had a very large balance at this branch of our bank;
he was continually paying in and drawing out amounts which, to men of
less means, must needs seem tremendous. Now, you can see for yourselves
what his transactions with us were during the last few days of his life;
I, as I have said, see nothing out of the way in them--you, of course,"
he continued, with a sniff, "may see a good deal!"

Professor Cox-Raythwaite ran his eye over the neatly-written pages,
passing rapidly on to the important date--November 12th. And he suddenly
thrust out his arm and put the tip of a big yellow finger on one
particular entry.

"There!" he exclaimed. "Look at that. 'Self, L5,000.' Paid out, you see,
on November 12th. Do you see?"

Mr. Playbourne laughed cynically.

"My dear sir!" he said. "Do you mean to say that you attach any
importance to an entry like that? Jacob Herapath constantly drew cheques
to self for five, ten, twenty, thirty--aye, fifty thousand pounds! He
dealt in tens of thousands--he was always buying or selling. Five
thousand pounds!--a fleabite!"

"All the same, if you please," said the Professor quietly, "I should
like to know if Jacob Herapath presented that self cheque himself, and
if so, how he took the money it represents."

"Oh, very well!" said the manager resignedly. He touched his bell again,
and looked wearily at the clerk who answered it. "Find out if the late
Mr. Herapath himself presented a cheque for five thousand on November
12th, and if so, how he took it," he said. "Well," he continued, turning
to his visitors. "Do you see anything with any further possible mystery
attached to it?"

"There's an entry there--the last," observed Mr. Halfpenny. "That.
'Dimambro: three thousand guineas.' That's the same date."

Mr. Playbourne suddenly showed some interest and animation. His eyes
brightened; he sat up erect.

"Ah!" he said. "Well, now, that is somewhat remarkable, that entry!--though
of course there's nothing out of the common in it. But that cheque was
most certainly the very