"Nothing! That is my advice, Tinkle. We can't do anything without owning up to having been out of bounds; and I don't want my name down for punishment now. We don't know that the note is the one which Mr. Delermain lost. We only know that it is one Elgert and Dobson want to get hold of for some purpose of their own; they may be trying to trace something about it."
And then Brown went to stand at his shop-door, impatiently watching for the return of his companion, and hailing him as he saw him appear round the bend of the road.
"It's curious that they should be so anxious to get that note back" he said, when he told the other of Elgert's request. "Offered a pound, and said he was willing to go beyond that. Well, as you have changed the note, it is your property, and the profit will be yours. Of course, you will part with it?"
The man drew the note from his pocket-book, and examined it carefully ere he answered.
"It is quite genuine," he said, and Brown laughed.
"Of course, it is! I knew that all along. That part of their story was all nonsense. There is something up, but you may as well make your little bit out of it. Say I give you six pounds for it, and chance making any more myself?"
"Not to-day," was the quiet answer. "You shall have it in a day or two. You can say that you have been promised that it shall be returned."
"But what do you want to do with it for a day or two?" asked Brown, with something of curiosity.
And the man looked him in the face, and replied, with a quiet smile—