"Well, I'll pay it," said George Deaves with a sour face, "provided you'll agree to investigate the list Hassell gave us in your spare time."
"I'll do it," said Evan. "I'm interested. You'd better discharge Alfred who is certainly a spy, and get a detective in his place to keep a watch on the other servants."
"Those fellows cost ten dollars a day!" cried Simeon Deaves.
"The blackmailers are getting five thousand out of you every fortnight," retorted Evan.
"I do not see the necessity for a detective," said George Deaves loftily. "As long as I'm paying you all this money. You can look out for that side of the case as well."
"Just as you like," said Evan smiling. It was hopeless to try to argue with these people.
Alfred entered, and giving Evan a wide berth laid a long envelope on George Deaves' desk. "Brought by messenger," he said. "No answer." He left the room.
Deaves paled as his eyes fell on the superscription.
"The same handwriting!" he murmured.
He nervously tore open the envelope. It contained some typewritten sheets, and a slip with writing upon it. George Deaves read the letter with a perplexed expression, and handed it over to Evan.