"Perfectly—it was a repayment of two hundred pounds he had borrowed, and was still in the bag, uncounted. This was the one coin, of them all, which I thought you might have noted."
"And you assume that Parkington is the thief?" asked Marbury.
"At least, it acquits your servants."
"I never thought them guilty."
"And it calls for an explanation from Sir Edward," Maynadier said.
Marbury considered—frowning down at his heavy shoes, the while.
"I am not disposed to go further into it," he said, at length. "I regret that I did not tell you so more promptly.—I have put you to needless trouble.—I am very sorry—I apologize.—This was a most peculiar thief, Maynadier, a most peculiar thief! He returned the money, the evening before the house-party broke—it was on my desk when I went up to bed."
"And nothing with it, of course?"
"Yes; a slip of paper, cut from some book, was pinned to the bag, with these words printed on it:—'For this relief much thanks.' I shall drop the matter, Maynadier."