"Why, I thought I had explained that to you," replied Grant. "The money paid them by my father was in cash, not by check. I remember that on that day we had received almost six thousand dollars in English gold from the skipper of a sailing ship. The money was placed in the small safe."
"And it was gone when you examined the safe after your father's death?"
"Exactly. That is why I am so positive the debt was paid. That fact and the unfinished entry in father's book is proof enough."
"It certainly is," replied Mori, with conviction. "Well, something may turn up in time to establish the fact. Here is the office. We will wait until Nattie returns."
In the meantime an important scene had taken place in the counting-room they had just left. After their departure, Mr. Black cleared his private apartment of his secretary and closing the door leading to the outer room, bade his son draw a chair up to the desk.
The merchant's face appeared grim and determined. He nervously arranged a pile of papers before him, and then, with the air of a man who had recently heard unpleasant news, he confronted Ralph.
"Did you hear what that crippled whelp said?" he asked.
"Yes," sullenly replied his son. "He's induced Mori Okuma to go in with him, and they intend to commence business at once."
"Do you know what that means to us?"