Cora instantly guessed what this meant--a trick of Rob Roland. To show her the book! To make sure it was now useless, as the table had been made secure by him, but just to put it in that case to taunt her, when she would come, as of course he knew she would, and discover there was now absolutely no hope of ever recovering Wren's long-lost treasure. She looked vaguely into the glass case. "So you did get the table?" she said indifferently. "Yes, that, too," said the man. But he made no attempt to display it. "Can't I see it? You said you would make me one like it--" "Oh, yes. I know I did. But my customer is very particular, and I have agreed not to show it." "Cora's heart sank. She must be shrewd now or lose what she had so long worked for. "But you made the agreement with me first," she argued. "You promised to let me see the table, and said you would make me one to order, not like it, of course, but in the same line." The old man shook his head. He had evidently changed his mind. A new thought came to Cora. "Has your customer paid for the table?" she asked. "Oh, it will be paid for--it will be paid for," and he seemed to gloat over the words, "when it is delivered." Then it was not yet paid for--not actually bought. Clip saw instantly what Cora was striving for, but she pretended to be interested in the locked case in which rested the much-looked-for promise book. "How do you know it will be paid for?" hazarded Cora. "Young folks often change their minds. I suppose you have a good deposit?" "Well, no. I wanted one, but the gentleman is gone for to cash a check--" Cora laughed. The old man's face changed. "If they wanted the table why did they not bring the money?" she said. "I should think it would save you trouble to sell the table directly to me--if it suits me, of course. I am going away from here, and suppose the other customer never comes back?" Still the old man did not speak. Cora saw her advantage and took out her purse. "How much is it?" she asked boldly. "They will pay me fifty dollars for that table," he said dramatically. "So will I, if it suits me," she declared. "Come, let me see it." The old man saw the new bills in her hands, He stepped toward the door of another room, but he put up his hand to warn her not to follow. "I will bring it," he said in such grave tones that Clip wanted to laugh--surely this was a Shylock. While he was within the room Cora whispered to Clip, and when the old man came out Clip was gone. He had between his hands a small, very narrow table, like the old-time card table, with glass knob at either end, and on the long drop leaves were inlaid an anchor and crossed oars. "That is just the size," declared Cora, while she trembled so she feared the man would detect her agitation. Then she looked it over, and under she was seeking for a hidden drawer. "Are there drawers in it?" she asked.