"That's all Murgatroyd could tell?" inquired Byner. "That's all he knows," answered Eldrick. "You say Murgatroyd knew Parrawhite as one of your clerks?" asked Byner after a moment's thought. "We had some process in hand against this man last autumn," replied Eldrick. "I dare say Parrawhite served him with papers." "Would he--Murgatroyd--be likely to know Pratt?" continued Byner. "He might--in the same connection," admitted Eldrick. Byner smoked in silence for a while. "Do you know what I think, Mr. Eldrick?" he said at last. "I think Pratt put up Murgatroyd to sending that telegram to us in London this morning." "You do!" exclaimed Eldrick. "Surely! And now," continued the inquiry agent, "if you will, you can do more--much more--without appearing to do anything. Pratt's office is only a few minutes away. Can you drop in there, making some excuse, and while there, mention, more or less casually, that Parrawhite, or information about him, is wanted; that you and a certain Halstead & Byner are advertising for him; that you've just seen Murgatroyd in respect of a communication which he wired to Halstead's this morning, and that--most important of all--a fortune of twenty thousand pounds is awaiting Parrawhite! Don't forget the last bit of news." "Why that particularly?" asked Eldrick. "Because," answered Byner solemnly, "I want Pratt to know that the search for Parrawhite is going to be a thorough one!" Eldrick went off on his second mission, promising to return in due course. Within a few minutes he was in Pratt's office, talking over some unimportant matter of business which he had invented as he went along. It was not until he was on the point of departure that he referred to the real reason of his visit. "Did you notice that Parrawhite is being advertised for?" he asked, suddenly turning on his old clerk. Pratt was ready for this--had been ready ever since Eldrick walked in. He affected a fine surprise. "Parrawhite!" he exclaimed. "Why--who's advertising for him?" "Don't you see the newspapers?" asked Eldrick, pointing to some which lay about the room. "It's in there--there's an advertisement of mine, and one of Halstead & Byner's, of London." Pratt picked up a Barford paper and looked at the advertisements with a clever affectation of having never seen them before. "I haven't had much time for newspaper reading this last day or two," he remarked. "Advertisements for him--from two quarters!" "Acting together--acting together, you know!" replied Eldrick. "It's those people who really want him--Halstead & Byner, inquiry agents, working for a firm of City solicitors. I'm only local agent--as it were." "Had any response, Mr. Eldrick?" asked Pratt, throwing aside the paper. "Any one come forward?"