“Then he is the ostensible Stephenson too, and sold every important citizen in this town with his bogus secret. Now if he has sent cheques instead of money, we are sold too, after we thought we had escaped. I was beginning to feel fairly comfortable once more, after my night’s rest, but the look of that envelope makes me sick. It isn’t fat enough; $8,500 in even the largest bank-notes makes more bulk than that.” “Edward, why do you object to cheques?” “Cheques signed by Stephenson! I am resigned to take the $8,500 if it could come in bank-notes--for it does seem that it was so ordered, Mary--but I have never had much courage, and I have not the pluck to try to market a cheque signed with that disastrous name. It would be a trap. That man tried to catch me; we escaped somehow or other; and now he is trying a new way. If it is cheques--” “Oh, Edward, it is _too_ bad!” And she held up the cheques and began to cry. “Put them in the fire! quick! we mustn’t be tempted. It is a trick to make the world laugh at _us_, along with the rest, and--Give them to _me_, since you can’t do it!” He snatched them and tried to hold his grip till he could get to the stove; but he was human, he was a cashier, and he stopped a moment to make sure of the signature. Then he came near to fainting. “Fan me, Mary, fan me! They are the same as gold!” “Oh, how lovely, Edward! Why?” “Signed by Harkness. What can the mystery of that be, Mary?” “Edward, do you think--” “Look here--look at this! Fifteen--fifteen--fifteen--thirty-four. Thirty-eight thousand five hundred! Mary, the sack isn’t worth twelve dollars, and Harkness--apparently--has paid about par for it.” “And does it all come to us, do you think--instead of the ten thousand?” “Why, it looks like it. And the cheques are made to ‘Bearer,’ too.” “Is that good, Edward? What is it for?” “A hint to collect them at some distant bank, I reckon. Perhaps Harkness doesn’t want the matter known. What is that--a note?” “Yes. It was with the cheques.” It was in the “Stephenson” handwriting, but there was no signature. It said: “I am a disappointed man. Your honesty is beyond the reach of temptation. I had a different idea about it, but I wronged you in that, and I beg pardon, and do it sincerely. I honour you--and that is sincere too. This town is not worthy to kiss the hem of your garment. Dear sir, I made a square bet with myself that there were nineteen debauchable men in your self-righteous community. I have lost. Take the whole pot, you are entitled to it.” Richards drew a deep sigh, and said: “It seems written with fire--it burns so. Mary--I am miserable again.” “I, too. Ah, dear, I wish--” “To think, Mary--he _believes_ in me.” “Oh, don’t, Edward--I can’t bear it.”