The signal was “all clear,” and Pentecost turned west and strolled up beyond the State House to Bullfinch Place. His man, following, joined him in this quiet neighborhood. Pentecost put the large envelope in his hands. “Letter inside, stamped and addressed. Get it into the nearest letter box to the house and before eight to-night,” he said, speaking rapidly. “And _keep your hands off it_. Rip open the outside envelope, and let the one inside slide into the box. Here’s a typewriter in this package; take it out and polish it up. Clean all the marks off it. Wrap it up again without touching it. Do you get that? If you put one finger on it after you polish it off it’s you for the chair. The machine’s for Haworth. Take it to him yourself. Tell him I thought he might like to learn to use it. You stand by and get him to try it—tell him you’ve got to change it if not satisfactory. I want his hands on it.” “I get you!” And the two sauntered carelessly away in different directions. * * * * * When the firm of Harker & Pentecost, together with the son of the senior partner, boarded the _North Land_ late that afternoon for the return trip to New York, they greeted their steamer acquaintances of the previous night pleasantly, though in a manner indicating that they’d had a rather strenuous day of it. Mr. Pentecost alluded to his intention of turning in early. Alfred was introduced to the purser and one or two others as occasion arose, and the three were about for a while, chatting with one and another of the officers. Beside the Messrs. Harker & Pentecost and Alfred, there were two men on board the _North Land_ who were closely associated with the firm, although giving no evidence thereof. Their business on this trip was to make close observation of certain points and circumstances connected with the steamer and its crew, particularly in the passage through the canal and the docking of the boat on reaching New York the following morning; which business was faithfully attended to, as was also the matter of their making the reservation of the two cabins they were occupying on this voyage for the trip out of Boston ten days later, so that the firm should have no appearance whatever in that transaction, these rooms being 202 and 204 on the hurricane deck—the name of which tends to foster the idea that it was high up among the clouds, whereas there were two decks above it, the promenade and the boat. The firm members made not the slightest effort to push themselves; they were seen here and there; and after an early dinner together, Pentecost, passing the pilot house, greeted Captain Snow, and the two exchanged a few words through the open window. He very soon left, saying he was going to bed, but hoped to be on board a week later, as he had further business in Boston about then.