I was relieved beyond all words at the hearty assurance of the boy, and I plucked up new courage. Apprehension had made me faint-hearted, but if he could show such flawless confidence in Florence and her betrothed, surely I could do as much. “Good for you, young man!” I cried, shaking his hand. “You've cheered me up a lot. I'll take a fresh start, and surely we'll find out something. But I'd like to send for Stone.” “Wait a bit, wait a bit,” said Mr. Crawford. “Phil's right; there's no possibility of Florrie or Hall in the matter. Leave the gold bag, the newspapers, and the yellow posies out of consideration, and go to work in some sensible way.” “How about Mr. Joseph's finances?” I asked. “Are they in satisfactory shape?” “Never finer,” said Philip Crawford. “Joseph was a very rich man, and all due to his own clever and careful investments. A bit of a speculator, but always on the right side of the market. Why, he fairly had a corner in X.Y. stock. Just that deal--and it will go through in a few days--means a fortune in itself. I shall settle that on Florence.” “Then you think the will will never be found?” I said. Mr. Crawford looked a little ashamed, as well he might, but he only said, “If it is, no one will be more glad than I to see Florrie reinstated in her own right. If no will turns up, Joe's estate is legally mine, but I shall see that Florence is amply provided for.” He spoke with a proud dignity, and I was rather sorry I had caught him up so sharply. I went back to the inn, and, after vainly racking my brain over it all for a time, I turned in, but to a miserably broken night's rest. XVI. A CALL ON MRS. PURVIS The next morning I received information from headquarters. It was a long-code telegram, and I eagerly deciphered it, to learn that Mrs. Egerton Purvis was an English lady who was spending a few months in New York City. She was staying at the Albion Hotel, and seemed to be in every way above suspicion of any sort. Of course I started off at once to see Mrs. Purvis. Parmalee came just as I was leaving the inn, and was of course anxious and inquisitive to know where I was going, and what I was going to do. At first I thought I would take him into my confidence, and I even thought of taking him with me. But I felt sure I could do better work alone. It might be that Mrs. Egerton Purvis should turn out to be an important factor in the case, and I suppose it was really an instinct of vanity that made me prefer to look her up without Parmalee by my side. So I told him that I was going to New York on a matter in connection with the case, but that I preferred to go alone, but I would tell him the entire result of my mission as soon as I returned. I think he was a little disappointed, but he was a good-natured chap, and bade me a cheerful goodby, saying he would meet me on my return. I went to New York and went straight to the Albion Hotel.