"How strange," said Vass, who appeared to be fascinated by Manuel's recital. "Most extraordinary," chimed in Torry, with his eyes fixed on the parcel of bank notes. He was trying to fathom the meaning of this restoration of stolen property, but could not. The thought crossed his mind that Manuel might have stolen the money himself, and was playing the comedy of restoration to save himself from figuring as a corpse with a tomb-image beside him. But, then, the Captain had no need to become a thief, since the money continued always in his possession; and, if he had risked his neck to get it, he certainly would not thus tamely surrender his plunder. No! it was not Manuel who was the thief; but Torry could not conjecture who was. Nor could he fathom the motive of the thief in thus making restitution. It was inexplicable. "What do you make of it, sir?" asked Manuel, looking at Torry's thoughtful face. "I don't know what to make of it!" responded the detective. "At all events," cried Vass eagerly, "this restitution shows that Mr. Grent did not take the money. As he is dead he could not have restored it." "That is true," said Torry ironically; "but Grent might have been robbed of the money, and then his assassin, feeling compunction, might thus give it up." Manuel sneered. "If that is all you have to say I think it foolish," he said. "A man would not commit two murders for money, and then give up what had cost him so dearly to gain." "True again," said the detective thoughtfully. "Well, we must find some other explanation. We may arrive at one by making a few inquiries. You did not see the man who brought back the notes, Captain?" "No! I amused myself as I remarked," said the Spaniard; "but to the porter I spoke of him." "What did the porter say?" "That this man possessed red hair and beard." "Aha!" cried Torry, cracking his fingers, "the same disguise as that assumed by Grent. Was this man a gentleman?" Manuel shrugged his shoulders. "But who can say," he replied, "this man had on a large coat, and a hat on his eyes. Only the beard and hair did the porter see." "Still, his mode of speech?" "Mr. Policeman, he said but four words. What could be known of his rank by four words?" "What were the four words?" "For Captain Manuel, this," repeated the Spaniard. "And then sir, this man gave the packet and departed." "Humph! I wonder if he was the assassin." "No!" cried Vass with energy. "The murderer would not run the risk of arrest. For my part," added the secretary emphatically, "I do not believe that the two crimes have anything to do with one another." "In that case, it is strange that they should occur almost simultaneously." "A coincidence!" "That may be, Mr. Vass," said Manuel unrolling the parcel and shewing the notes. "But here we have something which is not a coincidence, and which I can explain not. These notes!" "Well, sir!" asked Torry. "What about them? They are your bank notes." "Not really; the numbers are different."