“ALLAN ROSCOE, ESQ.:
“DEAR SIR: Be kind enough to come up to the city at once. Business of great importance demands your attention.
“Yours respectfully, TIMOTHY TAPE.”
“Mr. Tape is unusually mysterious,” said Allan Roscoe to himself, shrugging his shoulders. “I will go up to-day. I have nothing to keep me at home.”
Mr. Roscoe ordered the carriage, and drove to the depot. Guy, noticing his departure, asked permission to accompany him.
“Not to-day, Guy,” he answered. “I am merely going up to see my lawyer.”
Two hours later Mr. Roscoe entered the office of his lawyer.
“Well, Tape, what’s up?” he asked, in an easy tone. “Your letter was mysterious.”
“I didn’t like to write explicitly,” said Mr. Tape, gravely.
“The matter, you say, is of great importance?”