"Where will I find this Mr. Fellows?" asked the Agent.
"I saw him not ten minutes ago enter a store in the village."
"You are sure he will corroborate your statement?"
"There's no doubt of it. He's a plain, practical man, who tells a straight-forward story."
"Come, then," said the Agent, "we will go and find him."
Carleton readily assented, and the two left the chamber.
"I've a little business to transact before dinner, mother," said the young man, as they passed out. "If I am not back in a quarter of an hour, do not wait for me."
But little difficulty was experienced in finding Mr. Fellows. He was such a person as Carleton had described; but he turned out to be very deaf, and the Agent deemed it expedient to retire with him and Carleton to some secure place, where their loud talking would not be overheard. The clerk proposed that they should make use of the private room of the post-office. The Agent readily agreed to this, for he was somewhat anxious to make sure of Howard; and he now resolved that the latter should be present at the interview. This plan was also proposed by Carleton, and when they had arrived at the post-office, the senior clerk informed the junior, in a low and serious tone, that his presence was requested in the private apartment.
"But who will attend in the office?" asked Howard.