That evening I registered the box from the post office at Darlington, and three days later Charles Otley, who had managed to clear himself of all suspicion, received an anonymous gift of four thousand five hundred pounds which had been placed to his credit at the bank. And none of the actors in that strange drama suspect the hand of the clever, unscrupulous, but sometimes generous, Squire of Overstow. CHAPTER XV OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY "Mr. Hargreave, father is sending you upon a very strange mission," Lola told me in confidence one dull morning, after we had had breakfast at the Midland Hotel, in Manchester, where we three were staying about a fortnight after Rayne's generosity in returning the famous jewels of the dead Sultan. "What kind of mission?" I inquired with curiosity, as we sat together in the lounge prior to going out to idle at the shop windows. "I don't know its object at all," was her reply. "But from what I've gathered it is something most important. I--I do hope you will take care of yourself--won't you?" she asked appealingly. "Why, of course," I laughed. "I generally manage to take care of myself. I'd do better, however, if--well, if I were not associated with Duperre and the rest," I added bitterly. The pretty girl was silent for a few moments. Then she said: "Of course you won't breathe a word of what I've said, will you?" "Certainly not, Lola," was my reply. "Whatever you tell me never passes my lips." "I know--I know I can trust you, Mr. Hargreave," she exclaimed. "Well, in this matter there are several mysterious circumstances. I believe it is something political my father wants to work--some business which concerns something in the Near East. That's all I know. You will, in due course, hear all about it. And now let's go along to Deansgate. I want to buy something." In consequence we strolled along together, Rayne having gone out an hour before to keep an appointment--with whom he carefully concealed from me. That same night Rayne disclosed to me the mission which he desired me to carry out. He was a man of a hundred moods and as many schemes. One fact which delighted me was that in the present suggestion there seemed no criminal intent. And for that reason I quite willingly left London for the Near East three days later. My destination was Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, and the journey by the Orient Express across Europe was a long and tedious one. I was much occupied with the piece of scheming which I had undertaken to carry out in Sofia. My patriotism had led me to attempt a very difficult task--one which would require delicate tact and a good deal of courage and resource, but which would, if successful, Rayne had said, mean that a loan of three millions would be raised in London, and that British influence would become paramount in that go-ahead country, which ere long must be the power of the Balkans.