There was no need of waiting longer. He put back the contents of the trunk hastily, with the exception of the paper, which he folded, and put carefully in his breast-pocket. Then locking the trunk, he went down stairs, and let himself out by the front door, without meeting any one. "I didn't think I'd succeed so easily," he thought. "Now I'll go round to the Burnet House and get my hundred dollars. It pays to have a headache, sometimes." Arrived at the Burnet House he found that Mr. Grey was out, and decided to wait for him. He remained in the reading-room, reading the papers, impatient for the return of his employer. As he sat there, Mr. Grey, who had been told at the desk that some one was waiting to see him, entered. "Ah! my young friend," he said, affably, "well, have you any news for me?" "Yes," said Maurice. "What is it?" "Hadn't we better go up stairs?" "It may be better. But, in one word, is it success or failure?" "Success," said Maurice. "Good!" exclaimed James Grey, his eyes lighting up with joy. "Come up." Again they found themselves in the same room in which Gilbert and his uncle had formerly had their interview. "The paper," said Mr. Grey, impatiently. "You'll pay me the money?" said Maurice, cautiously. "If the paper is correct, you may be assured of that." Upon this assurance Maurice withdrew the paper from his pocket, and passed it over to his companion. The latter opened it, and glanced over it triumphantly. "Is it right?" "Yes, it is right. It is the forged paper. We have put a spoke in the wheel of that impudent young impostor. He can do nothing now. But you want your money, and you shall have it." Mr. Grey took out his pocket-book and counted out five twenty-dollar bills, which he put in the hands of his agent. "Now confess," he said, "you never earned money more easily." "No," said Maurice; "but I wouldn't like to go through it again. Suppose Grey had come in while I was at his trunk?" "Tell me how you managed it--I am curious to know." So Maurice told the story, which amused his auditor not a little, especially when he tried on the mustache in his presence. "You are a regular conspirator," he said, smiling. "You absolutely have a genius for intrigue." Maurice felt complimented by this remark, and the fact that he was the possessor of over a hundred dollars, put him in very good spirits. "When do you think Gilbert will find out his loss?" he asked. "Very likely not till he calls on me. He will wonder how he met with the loss." "I must be going, Mr. Grey," said Maurice. "It is about time for lunch." "I would invite you to lunch with me, but it might lead to suspicions." "Thank you all the same." "Now the boy may do his worst," said James Grey, exultingly. "He has lost his proof, and has nothing but his own assertion to fall back upon. _I am out of danger._" CHAPTER XXIII. THE TABLES TURNED.