"You could swear to it as the identical bank-note?" Captain Wilkins glanced at the paper again.
"It's the identical rag," said he; "I can take my oath of it."
This startling revelation gave a different phase to the business. The finger of discovery seemed to point directly at the senior clerk. Again the Agent, on leaving Wilkins, recalled Carleton's every look and word, in the conversation he had with him that morning. He could not recall the faintest indication of guilt. And he could not but hope that the young man was as innocent as he appeared; and that circumstances would prove him so. However, there was no way left but to follow the thread of evidence he had so far successfully traced.
He strolled towards the post-office, and found Howard there alone.
"Where is your brother-clerk?" he asked.
"He went to dinner about five minutes ago,—rather earlier than usual."
"Very well; perhaps you can do my business for me. I mailed a letter here this morning, which I would like to recover from the mails, if it has not already gone out." A description of the letter was given. All this was done to prevent Howard from suspecting the Agent's real business with Carleton. The letter had gone, as the inquirer well knew, and he left the office.
But now his pace was quickened. He knew not what might be the result of his interview with Carleton. It was a significant fact that he had gone to dinner at an earlier hour than usual. If guilty, what more natural than that he should take that opportunity of destroying any evidence of his guilt to be found among his papers at home?
The Agent had already learned where Carleton lived, and he hastened at once to his house.
The young man's mother received him in a truly lady-like and hospitable manner.