“Let me know when he is disengaged,” said Thomas Godolphin. And Mr. Hurde went out.
George Godolphin was disengaged then. Mr. Hurde saw the gentleman, whom he had called the railway company’s secretary, departing. The next minute George Godolphin came out of his room.
“Have you mentioned that to my brother?” he asked of Hurde.
“I have, sir. Mr. Godolphin thinks that you must be mistaken.”
George went in to his brother, shook hands, and said he was glad to see him so early. “It is a strange thing about these bonds,” he continued, without giving Thomas time to speak.
“You have overlooked them,” said Thomas. “Bring me the keys, and I will go and get them.”
“I assure you they are not there.”
“They must be there, George. Bring me the keys.”
George Godolphin produced the key of the strong-room, and of the safe, and Lord Averil’s box was examined by Thomas Godolphin. The bonds in question were not in it: and Thomas, had he missed himself, could scarcely have been more completely astonished.
“George, you must have moved them,” were the first words he spoke.