sion several times as I narrated the
calamity. It was too stupendous for rebuke, and I fancied his eyes
softened with something like commiseration as he gazed upon us. After a
short interval of deliberation, he announced his intention of
accompanying us to the residence of the Secretary of State; and in a few
minutes we were driving back again to the opposite extremity of London.
It was not far off the hour for the morning delivery of letters when we
reached our destination; but the atmosphere was yellow with fog, and we
could see nothing as we passed along in almost utter silence, for neither
of us ventured to speak, and the secretary only made a brief remark now
and then. We drove up to some dwelling enveloped in fog, and we were
left in the cab for nearly half an hour, while our secretary went in. At
the end of that time we were summoned to an apartment where there was
seated at a large desk a small spare man, with a great head, and eyes
deeply sunk under the brows. There was no form of introduction, of
course, and we could only guess who he might be; but we were requested to
repeat our statement, and a few shrewd questions were put to us by the
stranger. We were eager to put him in possession of everything we knew,
but that was little beyond the fact that the despatch-box was lost.

"That young person must have taken it," he said.

"She could not, sir," I answered, positively, but deferentially. "She
wore the tightest-fitting pelisse I ever saw, and she gave me both her
hands when she said good-bye. She could not possibly have it concealed
about her. It would not go into my pocket."

"How did she come to travel up with you in the van, sir?" he asked
severely.

I gave him for answer the order signed by Mr. Huntingdon. He and our
secretary scanned it closely.

"It is Huntingdon's signature without doubt," said the latter; "I could
swear to it anywhere. This is an extraordinary circumstance!"

It was an extraordinary circumstance. The two retired into an adjoining
room, where they stayed for another half-hour, and when they returned to
us their faces still bore an aspect of grave perplexity.

"Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Morville," said our secretary, "it is expedient that
this affair should be kept inviolably secret. You must even be careful
not to hint that you hold any secret. You did well not to announce your
loss at the Post-office, and I shall cause it to be understood that you
had instructions to tak