"Hullo," cried Robert to himself. "What is he up to now?"
At first he thought to go out and hail Vernon, but quickly changed his mind.
"I'll get nothing out of him by questioning him," he reasoned. "It will pay far better to watch him and see what he does and where he goes."
A few minutes after our hero had discovered Vernon, he saw the spendthrift hurry swiftly for the wing of the house and try the window to the business office.
The sash was locked, but by inserting a knife blade between the upper and lower sashes he was enabled to push the catch back.
This done the lower sash was raised, and Frederic Vernon crawled into the business office as silently as a cat.
"He is up to no good," said our hero to himself. "I believe he is here to steal something."
There was a large Turkish chair handy, and Robert crouched behind this, that Frederic Vernon might not see him should he take a peep into the library.
"Don't seem to be anybody around," he heard Vernon mutter, as he looked into the library. "Frost must be off trying to hunt the old woman up."
Vernon tiptoed his way to Mrs. Vernon's desk, and, unlocking it, slid back the roller top.