“If you mean the method of handing it over, I don’t know. I shall do as I’m directed. If you mean how shall I obtain the cash, I’ve asked Mr Granniss to bring it up from New York for me.” “Is he going to travel home with that sum on his person!” “Yes, he said he had no fear in that direction.” “Oh, no; since no one knows of it, he runs little risk.” Meantime, Rodney Granniss, in New York, was putting through his errands in record time. He attended to the money matter, and by the aid of some influential friends of the Varian family, he obtained the desired sum in cash and unregistered bonds. Then he went to see Pennington Wise. That astute detective declared himself too busy to accept any new commission. But after Granniss had personally told the astonishing details of the case, Wise was unable to resist the temptation to undertake its investigation. “The way you put it, Mr Granniss,” he said, “it sounds like an impossible condition. I can’t see any explanation at all, but, as we know, there _must_ be one. The obvious solution is a secret passage, but since you tell me there is none, I feel I must go up there and see for myself what could have happened.” “Then you’ll come?” “Yes,—I’ll drop all else, and go straight off. We won’t travel together, though. You go ahead, right now, and I’ll follow soon. And, by the way,—you’re carrying that money with you?” “Yes.” “Let me take it. It’s far safer so.” Rod Granniss opened his eyes wide. Was this strange man asking him to transfer his trusted errand to him? Wise laughed. “I can’t say I blame you for not wanting to hand it over. But, this I do tell you,—it will be safe with me,—and it may not be with you.” “Why, nobody knows I have it!” “Even so. I strongly advise your letting me take it,—but you must do as you choose.” “You’ll get it safely up to Mrs Varian?” Granniss said, reluctantly producing the rather bulky parcel. “Yes, I will,—and if I don’t,—I’ll make the loss good.” He looked meaningly at the younger man, and, flushing a little, Rodney said, “That’s right,—Mr Wise. I couldn’t make it good if I lost it. Take it.” And with no further security than the detective’s word, Granniss handed over the money. He went to his train in a most perturbed spirit. Had he done right or not? It all depended on the fidelity of the detective. To be sure, Granniss had every confidence in him, but the sum of money was so large that it might well prove a temptation to hitherto impeccable honesty. He boarded his train, still uncertain of the wisdom of his course, and more uncertain as to what Mrs Varian would say. But, he reasoned, if they were to employ the services of one of the best and best known detectives in the country, it was surely right to obey his first bit of advice. This thought comforted Granniss somewhat, and he was further comforted by an event which took place that night, and which proved the wisdom of the detective’s advice.