"Why, I thought _you_ must know about it!" she prattled on. "But those men spoke as though maybe you didn't." "What men?" "The one who works for you--that came to the picnic, you know. You 'member? The dark, scowly man. And that other one who is your chauffeur." "My secretary and René? Tell me what they said," the man commanded sternly. "When did you hear them talking--and where?" "Why," explained Carolyn, fearing now that she had done or said something altogether wrong, "it was when I went down to call on the wooden-legged gentlemen at the Portugoosy cabin." "The--the _who_? And _where_ were you going?" demanded the man in amazement. "Why, don't you know Mr. Cap'n Littlefield and his Cousin Oly? They're real int'resting characters. That's what my papa calls 'em. And they've got wooden legs. But I don't know _how_ they got 'em," continued the little girl, "'cepting that they buy new ones when the old ones are worn out. And Mr. Cap'n Littlefield keeps a spare one that he only wears, so he says, on 'state and date occasions.'" "Indeed!" murmured her friend. "And that Portugoosy cabin is where Beppo used to live. Not Barzilla's pony, Beppo, but the man the pony is named after," added Carolyn May, eagerly. "Mr. Cap'n Littlefield and his cousin are living over there at the cabin just now." "Hold on!" urged the man from the Orowoc House finally. "There is something that interests me more. About this ten thousand dollars you were talking of." "Yes, sir?" "Are you sure they said ten thousand, Carolyn May?" "Oh, yes, sir!" "And that it was money belonging to me?" "My! didn't you know 'bout it at all?" she asked in surprise. "Just think! Those two men knew all about it and never told you." "Inness and René?" demanded the man, his brow clouded again. "Oh, yes, sir!" "You must tell me," said her friend very seriously, "just what they said about the ten thousand dollars. It is something I must be sure of, my dear. All this time I have thought--Well, I have charged, perhaps, an innocent person with a terrible crime." He said this to himself rather than to the little girl and his countenance displayed more emotion than ever she had seen in it before. "Tell me all they said." "Oh, I'm afraid I couldn't tell all," began Carolyn May. "Listen!" exclaimed he eagerly. "Did they speak as though I had already lost the ten thousand dollars, or was about to lose it?" "Oh, it's money you lost a long time ago. 'Cause the dark, scowly man told your chauffeur that he had spent it all. He _must_ be a bad man to spend money that you lost, without saying anything to you about it."