ining hand, and disappeared in the crowd without. In
another moment Bertram saw him standing at the outer door, looking
anxiously up and down the street.

"Something _is_ wrong," murmured Bertram. "What?" And for a moment he
felt half tempted to return Mr. Stuyvesant's friendly bow with a few
words expressive of his uneasiness, but the emphasis with which Hopgood
had murmured the words, "Be careful what you say," unconsciously
deterred him, and concealing his nervousness as best he might, he
entered the Directors' office.

It was now time for the meeting to open, and the gentlemen were all
seated around the low green baize table that occupied the centre of the
room. Impatience was written on all their countenances. Mr. Stuyvesant
especially was looking at the heavy gold watch in his hand, with a frown
on his deeply wrinkled brow that did not add to its expression of
benevolence. The empty seat at the head of the table stared upon Bertram
uncompromisingly.

"My wife gives a reception to-day," ventured one gentleman to his
neighbor.

"And I have an engagement at five that won't bear postponement."

"Sylvester has always been on hand before."

"We can't proceed without him," was the reply.

Mr. Wheelock looked thoughtful.

With a nod of his head towards such gentlemen as met his eye, Bertram
hastened to a little cupboard devoted to the use of himself and uncle.
Opening it, he looked within, took down a coat he saw hanging before
him, and unconsciously uttered an exclamation. It was a dress-coat such
as had been worn by Mr. Sylvester the evening before.

"What does this mean! My uncle has been here!" were the words that
sprang to his lips; but he subdued his impulse to speak, and hastily
hanging up the coat, relocked the door. Proceeding at once to the outer
room, he asked two or three of the clerks if they were sure Mr.
Sylvester had not been in during the day. But they all returned an
unequivocal "no," and that too with a certain stare of surprise that at
once convinced him he was betraying his agitation too plainly.

"I will telegraph whether Wheelock considers it necessary or not,"
thought he, and was moving to summon a messenger boy when he caught
sight of Hopgood slowly making his way in from the street. He was very
pale and walked with his eyes fixed on the ground, ominously shaking his
great head in a way that bespoke an inner struggle of no ordinary
nature. Bertram at once sauntered out to meet him.