"Unfortunately I have not," replied Jack. "I have been in Brindisi making every inquiry possible, but I have been able to gather no information whatever as to his whereabouts. I have come here in hopes that you may give me some idea of what his arrangements were with you, and from that I might plan a course of action." "I think my partner had better join us," said Mr. Lane, taking up a speaking-tube. For a few moments nothing was said. The business man went on with the letter he was writing, and Jack looked about him. The office was large and splendidly fitted up. Jack knew nothing of Lane & Baumann, but it was plain on every hand that it was a large and wealthy firm. Mr. Lane himself was an elderly gentleman, irreproachably dressed, and the picture of an important man in the City. The door opened and the other partner came in. Jack saw that Mr. Baumann was much younger, a fat, heavy German with clean-shaven face and big, round spectacles, through which little, thick-lidded eyes peered. "Has he brought some news?" asked Baumann quickly. "What does he say?" His accent at once betrayed him, though his English was excellent. "No," said Mr. Lane quietly, "he has brought no news. He comes to learn of us." "To learn of us," said Baumann slowly; "and what is it you wish to learn?" he demanded of Jack. The latter eyed the German keenly. At the first word he detected an enemy. Mr. Lane had been gravely polite and non-committal in his manner. This man showed hostility at once. "I wish to learn anything that will aid me in discovering the reason for the mysterious disappearance of my father," replied Jack, firmly. "Mysterious disappearance," repeated the German, with a sneering stress upon the words. "_Ach Gott!_ it is no mystery to me when a man with such a gombanion as that disappears." He was becoming excited, and his German accent began to thicken. "Companion," repeated Jack, "I do not understand you. My father had no companion except Buck Risley, his man, who has now returned to London with me." "Had he not, indeed?" said Baumann. "But he had a very close gombanion, one who might easily lead him astray. _Himmel_, what was it not worth? I think about it night and day." "Gently, Baumann, gently," said Mr. Lane. "You are mystifying Mr. Haydon, and I shall explain to him what you mean. He clearly does not understand you, and I do not think it is right to keep him in the dark. Mr. Haydon, do you know why your father went to Burmah for us?" "I understood that he was going to survey some concession you had gained," replied Jack. "My goncession," cried Baumann. "I went over there and saw the place, and I said to myself, _Himmel_, here is the for rubies, yes, fine rubies, and I got all rights to dig there." Mr. Lane quieted his excited partner and turned once more to Jack.