"Nothing whatever," replied his junior. And the answer seemed simplicity itself. Why did a strange thrill of misgiving go through me? Was it something in the look that had passed between them? Perhaps so. In any case, strange to say, the inconsistency between their having received no papers and yet looking for my arrival at the hour mentioned in the letter accompanying the documents, and accosting me by name, did not strike me till some hours later. I threw off what I believed to be my ridiculous mistrust, and it was not difficult to do so in my extreme annoyance. "I cannot understand it," I said. "It is really too bad. Everything depends upon 7 and 13. I must telegraph at once for inquiries to be instituted at the post-office." "But your people must have duplicates," said Fagg eagerly. "These can be forwarded at once." "I hope so," I said, though feeling strangely confused and worried. "They must send them direct _here_," he went on. I did not at once answer. I was gathering my papers together. "And in the meantime," he proceeded, touching my bag, "you had better leave _these_ here. We will lock them up in the safe at once. It is better than carrying them about London." It certainly seemed so. I half laid down the bag on the table, but at that moment from the outer room a most peculiar sound caught my ears--a faint cackling cough! I _think_ I concealed my start. I turned away as if considering Fagg's suggestion, which, to confess the truth, I had been on the very point of agreeing to. For it would have been a great relief to me to know that the papers were in safe custody. But now a flash of lurid light seemed to have transformed everything. "I thank you," I replied. "I should be glad to be free from the responsibility of the charge, but I dare not let these out of my own hands till the agreement is formally signed." The younger man's face darkened. He assumed a bullying tone. "I don't know how it strikes _you_, Mr. Bluestone," he said, "but it seems to me that this young gentleman is going rather too far. Do you think your employers will be pleased to hear of your insulting us, sir?" But the elder man smiled condescendingly, though with a touch of superciliousness. It was very well done. He waved his hand. "Stay, my dear Mr. Fagg; we can well afford to make allowance. You will telegraph at once, no doubt, Herr Schmidt, and--let me see--yes, we shall receive the duplicates of Nos. 7 and 13 by first post on Thursday morning." I bowed. "Exactly," I replied, as I lifted the now locked bag. "And you may expect me at the same hour on Thursday morning." Then I took my departure, accompanied to the door by the urbane individual who had received me. The telegram which I at once despatched was not couched precisely as he would have dictated, I allow. And he would have been considerably surprised at my sending off another, later in the day, to Bluestone & Fagg's telegraphic address, in these words:---