“By no means,” was the reply. “I shall wait for a few minutes, and then look him up if he does not return.”
“In that case,” said the other, “we may as well call the appointment off. I am confoundedly sleepy, anyway. See you to-morrow.”
Mantelle went away, and Maynard sprang for the phone. Two millions in diamonds would have appeared as small to him as did the half million involved when it came to a question of the safety of his friend. He began to understand now that he had made an awful mistake in carrying the diamonds about with him.
At the phone he called up the Wisconsin Hotel, asking for the clerk. When that rather important individual was on the wire Maynard asked:
“Was there a young man there within the hour asking to leave a package in the safe until morning?”
“No,” came the short reply.
Maynard gave a brief description of his friend’s personal appearance, and asked:
“Was such a person there for any purpose?”
“Yes,” was the reply.
“Did he make his business known?”