“Until a short time ago that was the case,” he answered, and crossed to the safe. “The records were here, and you will see that it has been burgled. If it’s any comfort to you, though, I’ll tell you that you are not the only one who will suffer.”
“I care nothing about that,” Phelps said angrily. “It’s my own plight that interests me to the exclusion of everything else. Do you wonder? This is terrible, Carter, terrible! I thought I could trust you, and now, after all this time, I find that I’ve been living in a fool’s paradise.”
The criminal interrupted him with a dignified gesture.
“I don’t think I deserve that, senator,” he said quietly. “Nicholas Carter has never yet betrayed a secret. Much as I regret this unfortunate occurrence, however, I don’t see how I can be held responsible for it. I didn’t rob my own safe, and certainly I wouldn’t have chosen to have it robbed, if I could have helped it.”
“That’s neither here nor there!” declared the ex-senator. “Why didn’t you destroy the records?”
“Do you expect me to destroy my stock in trade, or burn up the reference books I have had occasion to consult countless times?”
“I hadn’t thought of it in that light,” Phelps confessed. “Even that doesn’t make it any easier to bear, however. What can I do?”
“I’m sorry to say that I see nothing for you to do, except to pay,” Green Eye answered, fingering the letter which had been handed him.
Phelps looked at him in amazement. “You actually give me that advice!” he murmured.
Green Eye nodded. “I know I’m disappointing you,” he said, “but that’s the best advice I can give under the circumstances. It may sound strange, but we must face the facts. I know perfectly well who is at the bottom of this, and I have to confess that he’s one of the shrewdest men who ever defied the law. He’s amazingly daring, senator, and you may be sure he means exactly what he says. He’ll drag this whole unsavory business into the light, if you don’t stop his mouth with gold, and stop it without delay.”