"Yes," she whispered.
"Unbroken, are they not?"
"Yes," again she assented faintly.
"Well, then, you know what is inside of them; I do not."
"I?—" faltered Miriam. "Why——"
Then followed a moment of racking suspense for all, except, perhaps, Murgatroyd.
"Mrs. Challoner," he resumed, "you told me once that there were eight hundred and sixty thousand dollars in negotiable securities in these boxes. If what you then said was true, there they are, coupons and all."
"But, Mr. Murgatroyd," protested Mrs. Challoner, "you said that you did not have any money...."
Murgatroyd smiled.
"I spoke the truth. But you...." And now, to Challoner's great surprise, Murgatroyd fixed his eyes on him, and said in a voice that impressed them all the more, inasmuch as it was filled with a kindly confidence rather than with distrust:—