"Mr. Gilday," Bofinger said smiling, "I know everything. Besides there is no longer any need of concealment, as Max Fargus has chosen to show himself to-day."
"Max Fargus—the restaurant proprietor?" cried Gilday. "The man who was murdered in Mexico?"
Bofinger, with a shrug of his shoulders, said:
"I wouldn't ask you to break professional secrecy, Mr. Gilday, but I tell you everything has come out and concealment is no longer possible."
Gilday, who had rung, handed a slip of paper to the clerk, saying:
"Is there any such account? Mr. Bofinger," he continued, "I can assure you there is some mistake. Mr. Fargus I knew very well. We have heard nothing from him for many years."
"One question," said Bofinger: "Don't Fargus's restaurants bank with you?"
"There is no reason why I should not answer that," the banker replied carefully. "Certainly they do."
At this moment the messenger returned, saying:
"The account of Max Fargus, sir, expired seven years and two months ago."