"Yes, sir. We bell-boys know who are guests and who are not."
"Possibly you may have wondered what his business is here?"
"Yes, sir."
"He is a confidence man. His business is to pick up victims, and make what he can out of them. Do you see that old gentleman over by the window?"
"Yes, sir."
"He is an honest and probably well-to-do old farmer, I judge. That fellow has been having a talk with him. When he saw me he had business elsewhere. But he hasn't given up his scheme for bleeding the old man. Probably he will have another interview with him to-morrow. Now I should like to have you keep your eye on the two. Find out if you can what the man is after. I can't, for he knows me by sight. I want to foil his schemes and save the old man from loss. Here is my address."
The detective placed in Rupert's hand a small, plain card, bearing the name,
RICHARD DARKE.
Below he put his address, which need not be given here.