"I shall not regret it, if it interferes with Gilbert Grey."
"If you are his enemy, you cannot harm him more than by devoting yourself to my service."
"I will do it."
James Grey now hurried away, and Maurice went back to the store. He thought himself unsuspected of the theft of the paper, but he did not long remain so, and it was through his own imprudence that it happened.
The black mustache which he had used as a disguise he thrust carelessly in his vest pocket. One day in the store, in drawing out his watch-key, the mustache came too, and dropped on the floor.
Maurice stooped hastily to pick it up, but not till Gilbert had seen it. The latter at once remembered the servant's description of the young man who called for his opera-glass.
"How long have you had that mustache, Maurice?" he asked, pointedly.
"I bought it yesterday," muttered Maurice, in confusion.
"I thought you might have had it longer," said Gilbert, quietly.
Maurice did not answer.