"Remarkable, but very simple," said Cranston. "I like to do things my own way. One time, in San Francisco, I met an old schoolmate who needed twenty-five thousand dollars. The bank would grant him the loan if he had security. So I wired Bartram to send him forty thousand dollars' worth of certain bonds. Bartram had never heard of the man. That did not matter. He sent the bonds."
"Amazing!" said Savette. "I should think that you would be beset by swindlers—"
"Never," said Cranston. "I do not speak of my affairs to crooks, doctor. In fact, you are one of the very small number of persons who know anything at all about my methods. I have a complete record of my assets in my suitcase.
"Right now" — Cranston spoke calmly — "I could raise three million dollars, through my banks and through Bartram. All on the strength of my signature, by mail."
"Have you experienced any losses through this loose system?"
"It is not a loose system. It is a tight one. I know my own affairs. I keep my own records. I lend money, I trust people. I use good judgment.
"One man failed to repay a debt of five hundred dollars. I lost other small amounts. Less than a thousand, all together. That proves my wisdom in my method.
"I could leave tonight. Walk upstairs, take my bag, and step out of this house. All right. No trouble. As a matter of fact, I shall not touch that bag until I leave, sometime tomorrow night."
"What time are you leaving?"
"I don't even know that. When I please. But let us get back to the curios. It is too late now for you to make a choice. The servants are leaving tomorrow afternoon. I shall be alone here in the evening. If you wish, come out, and you and I can pack what you want. You will have to provide the truck to carry away the box. That is all."