en for a moment. Phil put his arm about her waist and kissed her. He
had never to his knowledge performed this act in the presence of a third
person until now, but he got through it without embarrassment.

'You think you can clear your father's character?' asked his
sweetheart's father. There was a tinge of scepticism in his voice,
though he tried to hide it.

'Yes, sir,' said Phil, his head thrown back a little, and his eyes
gleaming. Nobody had ever looked so handsome to Patty's fancy as he did
at that moment 'I know already that there was no real stain upon his
honour, and I'm surprised myself for thinking that there ever could have
been, bad as things looked. My father never took wrongful possession of
your money. He was robbed of it, and I think I can lay my hand upon the
thief.'

There was a prodigious excitement at this declaration, and the young man
was overwhelmed with questions. He could name no names, of course,
and give no clue, but he sketched the story. He contented himself by
describing young Barter as Thief Number One, and he was satisfied to
describe Steinberg as Probable Thief Number Two. He had learned, it
appeared, that Thief Number One had succeeded on his father's death to
a carefully limited partnership in a business affair in the city. The
guiding spirit in the concerns of Thief Number One had been his father's
managing clerk. The income of Thief Number One was strictly limited,
and his actual control over the affairs of the firm was non-existent.
Notwithstanding these facts, the young man was guilty of countless
extravagances, and was a reckless gambler. Within the last twelve months
he could hardly have paid away at the club less than a thousand pounds.
He had been extremely hard up before the loss of the money, and it was
in his offices that the roll of banknotes had been lost. As for Probable
Thief Number Two, he played rook to Number One's pigeon. He had a
visible hold upon him; Number One trembled before him, and did what
he was bidden to do. Number Two had plenty of money, and as shady a
reputation as any man in London who was not among the known criminal
classes. Phil's belief was that Number Two was disposing of the notes
for Number One, and that this simple fact accounted for his power over
him.

'And I'm going to follow their track,' said Phil, tapping the clenched
knuckles of his right hand upon the open palm of his left with a quiet
vehemence, 'until I find out everything, if I f