"
Mr. Royce brightened up for a moment.
"That's it," he said. "Let Lester look into it."
"Very well," assented Mr. Graham. "I agree to that. Of course, any
expenses you may incur will be borne by the office."
"Thank you, sir," and I rose with fast-beating heart, for the
adventure appealed to me strongly. "I'll begin at once then. I should
like assistance in one thing. Could you let me have three or four
clerks to visit the various stables of the city? It would be best, I
think, to use our own people."
"Certainly," assented our senior instantly. "I'll call them in, and we
can give them their instructions at once."
So four clerks were summoned, and each was given a district of the
city. Their instructions were to find from which stable Miss Holladay
had ordered a carriage on the morning of Thursday, April 3d. They were
to report at the office every day, noon and evening, until the search
was finished. They started away at once, and I turned to follow them,
when my eye was caught by the expression of our junior's face.
"Mr. Royce is ill, sir!" I cried. "Look at him!"
He was leaning forward heavily, his face drawn and livid, his eyes
set, his hands plucking at the arms of his chair. We sprang to him and
led him to a couch. I bathed his hands and face in cold water, while
Mr.
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