"If there is any one in the next room let him come forth."
Immediately a man stepped forth—a strange, weird-looking man—in old clothes, high boots with red Jersey mud on them, and a broad-brimmed slouch hat. As the figure stepped forth Mr. Townsend leaped from his chair with a wild cry and glared with bulging eyes—glared like one fearing a figure from the grave—and indeed, to all appearances it was veritably a figure from the grave; and during this almost tragic and really dramatic and startling scene Jack Alvarez, the detective, sat cool and unperturbed, and finally remarked:
"I knew there was some one in that room, Mr. Townsend. Who is this man?"
Mr. Townsend was indeed a strong-nerved man, and after a moment he recovered from the first shock of surprise and said:
"It is the dead come to accuse me for my negligence."
"The dead come to accuse you for negligence?"
"Yes."
"I do not understand."
"Mr. Alvarez, there stands the man who can name the owner of the fortune which I have held in trust for forty years—yes, there stands the man who confided the great fortune to my keeping."
"You recognize the man?"