He was startled at the effect of his words. Mr. Perkins jumped to his feet, while a look of absolute dismay overspread his face. He plunged both hands hastily into the pockets of his new coat, and exclaimed:
“What a cursed fool I have been!”
“What’s the matter, Perkins?” asked his friend.
“The matter? Matter enough! In the pocket of the coat I gave away was a package of securities amounting to about ten thousand dollars in value.”
“Good heavens!”
“And they didn’t belong to me. They belong to my ward. I got them out of the safe deposit vaults to-day.”
“That is serious. Do you know where the boy lives?”
“I don’t know his name.”
Darrell whistled.