Bob's misdemeanor temporarily diverted the minds of the family from the trouble about Neal, but Mr. Franklin's return that night brought up the subject again to some of them.
He told his wife that he wished to speak with her, and together they went into the library and shut the door. He laid two letters before her on the table—the one he had received that morning from Bronson, and a second one from the same source, which had come by the evening mail. The latter was very brief:
"My dear Mr. Franklin,—The very day that I sent my letter to you I received a money-order from Gordon for the amount he owed me.
"Regretting very much that I should have troubled you, I have the honor to be
"Very truly yours,
"Anthony Bronson."
"What does it mean!" asked Mr. Franklin, when his wife had finished reading the letters.
"I cannot imagine," said she, looking up, completely mystified.
"Did you lend him the money?"
"No, certainly not. I should have told you, John, if I had," she added, reproachfully.
"I know," he said, as he walked up and down the room, "but I could not account for it in any other way. It is extraordinary."