'The Devil is in the office, I believe. How do things come here? How do they vanish? Who put the notes in the safe? Who took the certificates out of the safe? All you can do is to stand and accuse each other. What good are you--any of you? Find out. Find out. Yesterday, there was a handbill about Edmund Gray in the safe. The day before there was a handful of Socialist tracts on the letters. Find out, I say.' 'Give the things to detectives,' said George. 'Let me take the case in hand, brother.' Sir Samuel laid hands on the papers. 'I flatter myself that I will very soon have the fellow under lock and key. And then, sir'--he turned to George--'scandal or no scandal, there shall be no pity--no mercy--none.' George laughed. 'Well, Sir Samuel, in a fortnight or so I shall call myself your brother-in-law. Till then, farewell.' He left the office and returned to his own room, the ripple of the laughter still upon his lips and in his eyes, so that the clerks marvelled, and the faith of those who believed in him was strengthened. 'Before then, young crowing bantam,' cried Sir Samuel after him, 'I shall have you under lock and key.' 'Ah!' This was Checkley. The little interjection expressed, far more than any words could do, his satisfaction at the prospect. Then he left the room grumbling and muttering. 'I believe that this business will finish me off.' Mr. Dering sighed again, and passed his hand over his forehead. 'Night and day it worries me. It makes my forgetfulness grow upon me. I am as good as gone. This hour I cannot remember the last hour. See--I had breakfast at home as usual. I remember that. I remember setting out. It is ten minutes walk from Bedford Row to here. I have taken an hour and a half. How? I do not know. What did I do last night? I do not know; and I am pursued by this forger--robber--demon. He puts things in my safe--yesterday, a placard that Edmund Gray was going to give a lecture on something or other--the day before, a bundle of tracts by Edmund Gray. What do these things mean? What can I do?' CHAPTER XX HE COMES FROM EDMUND GRAY 'Nothing,' said Athelstan, 'could possibly happen more fortunately. We have turned whispering conspirators into declared enemies. Now you are free to investigate in your own way without having to report progress every day.' 'About this new business about the letters and the things in the safe,' said Elsie. 'It looks to me like _diablerie_. Checkley couldn't do it. No conjuror in the world could do it. There must be somebody else in the office to do these things. They mean defiance. The forger says: "See--I do what I please with you. I return your letters addressed to Edmund Gray. I place placards about Edmund Gray in your safe--for which nobody has a key except yourself. Find me, if you can."' 'Yes; it is very mysterious.'