"I say, George! Did you hear about that thing at Baring's to-day?"
"Can't say! What was it?"
"A fellow who was afterwards recognized as a notorious thief presented a draft for some large amount—I've forgotten what it was—but at all events the cashier had been expecting it for over a week and the delay in presenting it kept the thing fresh in his mind—worried him, you know. Well, to cut it short, he asked some question or other and the answer made him rather suspicious. So instead of paying the draft he signalled one of their detectives; who immediately recognized the fellow and took him in custody. They're trying now to find the owner of the draft."
The conversation ended here, the two young men, bank clerks evidently, having finished eating.
Hall sat for a short time debating what he should do, and decided that for a short time he had better quit the country. He did not care to become prominent in the public view just at present. If things went right he could afford to lose the money—and right or wrong, it was not safe to claim it. Indeed, if the matter was followed further than the bankers who sold the draft, it was pretty certain to be found that it was the proceeds of the sale of diamonds.
Again, if the thief confessed where and how he had obtained the draft, he (Hall) was bound to come prominently into view. So, on the whole, Hall thought it best to quit the country for a while.
His nervousness on reaching Harley Street was so marked that the chamber-maid paid particular attention while he informed his landlady that he must leave town that night. Business of great importance demanded his presence on the Continent—and before Hall had finished packing-up Mr. Blount was waiting for him across the street.
Hall wrote a couple letters before starting, one being to Mrs. Stafford requesting that she should notify her husband and Kate that owing to business of the utmost importance and urgency the wedding must be postponed. As soon as he reached his destination he would be in position to say when he would be able to return.
Hall mailed the letters in the first box he came across, hailed a cab, and was driven rapidly to the Euston Square station. Blount was not prepared for this move, but caught the order "Euston Square," and catching the first hansom that came along followed as fast as possible.
At Euston Square sharp inquiry elicited the fact pretty surely that Hall had bought a ticket for Dover, and Blount caught the next train arriving three hours later—for the same place.