nvelope were connected with a South American trade
concession. Alcatrante had plainly concluded that his interests and those
of the Japanese were identical. He must have communicated with the
strange Japanese the first thing in the morning. That would account for
his failure to call at the Pere Marquette at ten o'clock. Learning that
the bill had been taken from Orme, and that the coveted documents were in
the possession of the Japanese, he had no object in keeping his
appointment. As for Poritol, he had become a figure of minor importance.

But Orme did not let these questions long engage him, for he had made a
discovery. Where his head bumped against the table, the board above
him--solid, as he had supposed--rattled strangely. At the moment he could
not investigate, but as soon as the cat had satisfied the suspicions of
Poritol, and Alcatrante and the stranger had retired to their corner, he
twisted his head back and examined the wood above him.

The table had a drawer. From the room outside this drawer was concealed
by the cloth cover, and Orme had not suspected its existence.

Now, the table was cheaply made. The drawer was shallow and narrow, and
it was held in position, under the table, by an open framework of wood.
When it was pushed in, it was stopped at the right place by two cleats;
there was no solid strip to prevent its being pushed in too far.

Orme put his hand to the back of the drawer. There was a space between it
and the table-top.

Cautiously he pushed his hand through the opening. His fingers touched a
flat object--a pad of paper, or--the thought made his heart beat--a
large, thick envelope. Could Arima have used the drawer as a
hiding-place?

Slowly he got the edge of the object between his first and second fingers
and drew it a little way toward the back of the drawer. A moment later he
had it under his eyes.

Yes, it was a long envelope of heavy linen, and there were bulky papers
within. The gummed flap was toward him. He was interested to note that,
important though the documents seemed to be, the envelope was not sealed
with wax.

He remembered what the girl had said: her father's name was written on
the address side. He had only to turn it over to learn who she was. In
the circumstances such an act might be justified. But she had not wished
him to know--and he would even now respect her wish and keep his own
promise to her.

His first thought was to slip the envelope into his pocket, b