"If I were sure Bullard had it, I'd go this minute and offer every penny
I have," Teddy desperately declared.
"I cannot imagine Mr. Bullard wanting the box for what it might be worth in money," she said; "I'm afraid he may use it in some way against father—and poor father was almost happy last night.—Oh, Teddy, I didn't mean to hurt you, you've done your best." He had turned away because there were tears in his eyes.
"Has Mr. Lancaster told you," he asked presently, "whether money would break the power of Bullard over him?"
After a little while her reply came in a whisper: "Yes; but it's an impossible sum—twenty-five thousand pounds." Teddy let out a groan, and just then Mrs. Lancaster had intervened.
"Yes," Alan was saying, "I'm going to make a big effort to find
Mr. Flitch."
"He isn't by any chance a smallish dark man with a queer nose?"
"He's a huge, ruddy man—but what made you ask, Teddy?"
"I'll come to that when I'm telling you my little story of how I tried to shadow Bullard."
"Shadow Bullard! Good Heavens!—you!"
"Something to do in my spare time," said Teddy with a feeble smile.