‘Why, he has not been here the whole night long!’
The young man passed his hand confusedly across his brow. ‘What did I tell you I saw at the office last night?’
‘You told me,’ answered Rachel, ‘that you saw grandfather, through a hole in the shutter, counting handfuls of sovereigns on his desk.’
‘Ah!’ exclaimed Walter, ‘then I cannot have dreamt it. I was the first to enter the office this morning. His room was empty. His ledgers were lying on his desk; the key was in the lock of the large safe, and the door of the safe stood open. But there were no signs of Silas Monk.’
The girl looked at the young man with a scared face. ‘What shall we do, if he is lost?’
Walter rose quickly from his seat. ‘Wait!’ cried he. ‘We shall find him. Mr Armytage has sent for a detective—one, as they say, who can see through a stone wall.’
‘Oh!’ cried the girl, ‘they cannot suspect my grandfather! I shall not rest until you bring him back to me, here, in our old home.’
The young man promised, with earnest looks and words, to do his best; and then hurried away with all possible despatch.
The commotion at the office, which had been going on ever since nine o’clock that morning, was showing no signs of abatement when Walter walked in. The entrance was guarded by two stalwart police-officers, who assisted the young clerk to make his way through a gaping crowd. Rumours had already spread about the city: Silas Monk had ‘gone off,’ some said, with the contents of the great iron safe in the strong-room of Armytage and Company; and the value of the documents which he had purloined was estimated at sums varying from one to ten thousand pounds. Other reports went even further, and declared that Silas, when entering as a clerk into the firm of Armytage and Company, years and years ago, had sold himself to the Evil One; that last night, while the old city clocks were striking twelve, he had received a visit—as did Faust from Mephistopheles—and had been whisked away in the dark.
Walter Tiltcroft found another constable near the stairs. ‘You’re wanted,’ said the officer in a snappish manner. ‘This way.’ The man conducted Walter to the private office of Mr Armytage, the senior partner. Here he left him.