"No, they must have been removed."
The library was searched, and then a look was taken through the whole house. Mrs. Bangs followed the men everywhere.
"You shall suffer for this outrage," she said to Mr. Bartlett several times.
"I presume I shall have to stand for what I have done," he answered, meekly. "Of one thing I am certain, Mrs. Bangs. Your husband has those papers, or else he has destroyed them."
"You can say what you please, Mr. Bangs is an honest man and a gentleman," retorted the fashionable woman.
At last there was nothing left to do but to leave the mansion, which Mr. Bartlett did with reluctance.
"I am afraid I have made a mess of it," he said to his lawyer. "I was certain we would find those papers."
"I am afraid you have hurt your case, Mr. Bartlett," answered the legal light, bluntly. "Bangs will now be on his guard and will take good care to keep those papers away from you."
"Perhaps he has destroyed them."
"That is not unlikely, since it would do him small good to keep them."