“And what is your relation to the affair, Mr. Snell?” The visitor seemed startled. “My relation to it?” he echoed. “Certainly. Do you come here as the representative of Governor Bradley?” “Oh, no! not at all! the governor didn’t send me.” “Who did, then?” Snell looked uncomfortable. “Do you need an answer to that?” he asked. “Of course I do. I must know whom I am dealing with.” “But I gave my name——” “It is not enough.” The detective spoke rather sharply. Mr. Snell hesitated and then said: “Mr. Carter, I cannot see why I should be dragged into the matter at all——” “But,” interrupted Nick, coldly, “nobody has dragged you that I am aware of. I certainly didn’t.” “You are trying to do so now, Mr. Carter.” Nick arose. “There is no need that we should talk longer,” he said. Snell also stood up, and he looked very much troubled. “I see that I have offended you,” he said. “I didn’t mean to. You see, Mr. Carter, a great scandal might come of this. It is very important that there should be none. The governor’s position might be lost——” “At this moment,” said Nick, “I care nothing for the governor’s position. You have given me some facts in a case that might be interesting, but I don’t propose to tackle it unless I know what I am about.” “We want you to look for the girl and the stolen papers.” “Who are we?” Snell hung his head. “Excuse me a moment,” said Nick; then: “I think I heard the telephone ring. When I return I hope you will have made up your mind to trust me. If you haven’t we can’t do business.” He bowed and left the room, but he did not go to the telephone. Instead he went to a room where Patsy, one of his assistants, was reading and gave him a few rapid instructions. Then he wrote a telegram and sent it to the nearest office by a servant. Patsy got his hat and went downstairs. “Now, Mr. Snell,” said Nick, when he returned, “are you ready to tell me what I want to know?” “I can only say that I want you to act in behalf of the governor.” “Does he know that you came to New York to ask this?” Snell did not answer. “We are wasting each other’s time,” said Nick. Snell made a last appeal. “I may be doing wrong,” he said, “but I beg you to look into this matter. You can’t help seeing how important it is.” “Well,” replied Nick, “usually I have nothing to do with a case where any facts are concealed from me——” “I am concealing no facts.” “Pardon me, you refuse to answer one of the first questions a detective would ask. I was going to say, Mr. Snell, give me a few hours to think it over and come again. Will you call to-morrow morning?” “I will.” “Very well, till then.” The detective went with his visitor to the door. Mr. Snell said “good-evening,” politely, and started down the street. A short distance behind him went Patsy. CHAPTER II. MR. SNELL IN TROUBLE. Nick had not taken time to tell Patsy very much about Snell.