"I owe you one for that, my good sir," thought Torry, rather mortified, the more so as Vass was smiling. However, his annoyance did not betray itself in his face, which was as suave and bland as ever. He turned sharply on the still smiling secretary.
"Is Mr. Leighbourne in his office?" he asked.
"Both of the Mr. Leighbournes are here. Which one do you inquire for?"
"The father. I wish to see him."
"What about?" stammered Vass nervously.
"That is my business. Go and ask if I can see him."
Vass did not like to be ordered about in this fashion, especially by an inferior, but as he was secretly afraid of the detective, he obeyed him without argument. The result was that in five minutes Torry found himself alone with Mr. Leighbourne, senior.
"You wish to see me, I believe," said the banker.
Torry looked at the portly old man, who resembled so closely his son, Frederick, and replied with all promptness. "Yes; I desire to ask you a few questions."
"You are the detective charged with the discovery of my late partner's murderer?"