While she was upstairs, Mr. Manning inquired: "Where did you get the box, Luke?"
"If you identify it as the box taken from the bank," answered Luke, "I will tell you. Otherwise I should prefer to say nothing, for it is a secret of another person."
"Matters look very suspicious, in my opinion, gentlemen," said Squire Duncan, turning to his associates.
"Not necessarily," said Mr. Beane, who seemed inclined to favor our hero. "Luke may have a good reason for holding his tongue."
Here Mrs. Larkin presented herself with the missing box. Instantly it became an object of attention.
"It looks like the missing box," said the squire.
"Of course, I can offer no opinion," said Mr. Beane, "not having seen the one lost. Such boxes, however, have a general resemblance to each other."
"Have you the key that opens it?" asked the squire.
"No, sir."
"Squire Duncan," asked Mr. Beane, "have you the key unlocking the missing box?"