nsistence."

"Indeed?"

"My young friend was so afraid that you would be robbed."

"I was robbed," laughed Orme, trying to make light of the situation.

"Why, how was that?" Alcatrante's surprise was well assumed.

"Oh, after I said good-night to you, the two Japanese caught me while I
was going through the tunnel to the courtyard."

"My dear Mr. Orme!"

"They are clever, those Japanese."

"And afterward you went out again?"

"What makes you think that?"

Alcatrante bit his lip. "Why," he stammered, "the detective reported that
you were absent when he arrived."

"And therefore," remarked Orme coolly, "he got access to my apartment
and, after rummaging through my things, went sound asleep in my bedroom,
where I found him snoring when I returned."

The minister swung his cane viciously at a bit of paper that lay on the
sidewalk.

"He was not a clever detective," continued Orme. "And as for Poritol,
don't you think he had better offer his reward to the Japanese?"

"No," replied Alcatrante. "They may have stolen the clue from you, but I
have reason to think that the papers were already gone when they went to
look for them. Poritol is really very anxious."

"Doubtless," said Orme.

"Perhaps," added Alcatrante, after a short wait, "he might even go as
high as two thousand."

"Indeed? Then there will surely be many answers to his advertisement."

"Oh, he will not advertise." Alcatrante laughed. "Already he knows where
the papers are. While waiting for the clue of the bill, he discovered
what others had already availed themselves of it."

"That is curious." Orme smiled. "How did he discover that?"

"In a roundabout way. I won't take time for the story."

They walked along in silence for a little distance. Orme was figuring on
an escape, for the minister's clutch on his arm was like that of a
drowning man's. Finally he sought the simplest means of getting away. "I
have an engagement," he said. "I shall have to leave you here. Thank you
for walking with me thus far." He disengaged his arm.

"My dear Mr. Orme," said Alcatrante, "why should we beat around the
bush?"

"Why, indeed?" said Orme.

"Poritol knows that his papers are in your possession. Speaking for him,
I offer you five thousand."

"Why do you drag Poritol into this?" said Orme. "You know that he has
merely been your agent from the start. You think he has bungled, but I
tell you, you are the one who bungled, for you picked him to do the w