Brown knew nothing of any safe deposit vault, so with a hasty word of explanation to General Wilson, I seized my hat, and said to Laura:
"You had better come over with me."
"I suppose I'd best go," she said. "It's a feeling I have, and as I don't have such inspirations very often I'd better obey this one."
"How did you find out about the money?" I asked as we descended the stairs.
"Why, uncle got dreadfully uneasy this morning, and I couldn't quiet him. He went over and over his words--'million,' and 'notes,' and 'five-sixteen'--and sometimes he called your name, and sometimes he called for Mr. Brown, and he was much vexed that you didn't understand him. Then about half an hour ago he cried out angrily, 'Go over to the safe deposit and get it. Why don't you do as I tell you?' At that I flew, and here I am." And she looked up in my face with an anxious smile.
The safe deposit building was but half a block away, and we were soon in the office. There was a minute or two of consultation between the officials when I had delivered my credentials as the representative of Wharton Kendrick. Then one of them asked:
"Have you the key number of the box?"
I was nonplussed for the moment, but Laura Kendrick whispered:
"Remember the number he has been calling out for the last two nights."
"Five-sixteen," I replied confidently.